On February 25, Beijing time, the first round of the 2022 Honda Classic was suspended due to dark. U.S. player Kurt Kitayama took the clubhouse lead with a score of 64 (-6). The three players who trailed one shot and tied for second were Daniel Berg, Chris Kirk and Rory Sabatini. Koepka finished in T10 with a 68 (-2); Pan Zhengchun was flat par and finished T45.
(2022 Honda Classic First Round Highlights)
Newcomer Kitayama Kaikan is leading
In last year's Korn Ferry Tour Finals, Japanese-American Player Kurt Kitayama finished 23rd and qualified for the PGA Tour in his sixth year of career.
(PGA TOUR Highlights – The Coming-of-Age Story of Kurt Kitayama)
In this round, Kitayama, who started from the back nine, staged a three-bird run on the 10-12 holes, and after the transfer, he advanced four birds in a row on the 3-6 holes, and the result of 7 birds and 1 bogey helped him take the lead in the guild.
He has a fairway percentage of 77.78% (14/18), a tie for first place among all players.
(Kurt Kitayama in the first round)
North Hill, who debuted on the PGA Tour, has not been ideal this season, with his best result being T45 at the Sanderson Farm Championship, which has failed to qualify for most of the rest.
However, he has always maintained an optimistic attitude. "I think that the unsatisfactory stage is actually a kind of self-motivation, reminding myself to come up with a better state and find ways to solve difficulties, which is also how I keep going." Kitayama said.
Lead the table
(Berg 9 hole about 9 yard bird push)
Daniel Berg, who had previously rested for some time due to a back injury, is gradually getting back in shape. He handed clean five birdies in the first round to finish second with compatriot Chris Kirk and Slovakian player Rory Sabatini with a shot of 65 (-5).
(Koepka T10)
Brooks Koepka, who played with his brother, performed remarkably well in this round. He pushed in a birdie of about 6 yards on the 15th hole, followed by two holes to save the Golden Bear Trap.
He is currently tied for 1st place with 17 players such as Billy Hoscher and Cameron Young with 3 birds and 1 bogey and 68 (-2). Younger brother Chase Koepka, on the other handing out a 71 (+1), ranked in the T65 alongside players like Ian Poulter.
in Fleetwood T28
Two England players, Tommy Fleetwood and Lee Westwood, both shot 69 (-1) at T28.
(First Round Ball – Thomson's No. 6 Tackle eagle)
The best goal of the round came from American player Curtis Thomson's 204-yard Eagle ball on par 6. In this round, he delivered a par par and was in the T45 group with players such as Pan Zhengchun and Patrick Reid.
It is worth mentioning that Thomson's sister is LPGA well-known player Lacey Thomson, and all three siblings are professional golfers.
(Hoigard, who played on the PGA TOUR for the first time)
Due to weather conditions, Danish youngster Nikolai Hoigard, who is participating in the PGA TOUR for the first time, has not finished the game. After the current 17 holes, the +6 is handed over and the T128 is temporarily listed.