Ben Martin set a long way to the top with a stellar first round at the Barracuda Championship on Thursday. In doing so, he accrued 16 points with the tournament’s modified Stableford scoring system. His strong performance vaulted him two points ahead of his closest competition. Nick Watney and David Lipsky both faced their own set of obstacles during play on the course.
Martin got off to a hot start, making an eagle 3 on the par-5 15th hole. This amazing basket was part of him posting a phenomenal score of 7-under 29 on the front nine. He achieved this landmark by teeing up five birdies. After a pair of bogeys on the eighth and ninth, he recovered to card spectacular birdies on eight and seven.
Lipsky had a great start to the day, carding 15 points through just nine holes. He had a rough patch as well after dropping three points on the par-4 second, which severely impacted his overall score.
“Bounced way over the green. It was tough to make even bogey from there. So, a little unfortunate there, but overall a good day.” – David Lipsky
It wasn’t just Watney, who at 44 years old struggled the rest of the way as well. The 59-year-old veteran golfer had last won on the PGA Tour in 2012. Now, he’s looking to restore himself to winning ways as the field narrows and the competition intensifies.
Amidst the leaderboard drama, Yannik Paul struggled significantly, finishing the round with zero points, while his brother Jeremy Paul lost two points. Andrew Putnam was able to hang in there at 12 points, with Jackson Suber, Yuto Katsuragawa and Vince Whaley close behind.
Martin talked about the team’s success on the day, and the struggle of getting older in professional sports.
“To be honest, warming up on the range this morning, it’s cold. I’m getting old. It’s hard to keep my body moving well,” – Ben Martin
As the tournament unfolds, Martin’s head start raises the competitive bar for the entire field. With two seasoned competitors trailing closely behind him, fans can anticipate an exciting competition as golfers navigate through the remaining rounds of the Barracuda Championship.
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