Justin Lower and Hayden Springer stand atop the leaderboard after the first round of this year’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship at Port Royal Golf Course, while Camiko Smith stands as the leading Bermudian among the field.
Lower and Springer each carded cores of 65 on the 6,828 par 71 course under tough in conditions made tricky by frequent, strong wind gusts.
The pair lead by one stroke over a trio at five-under, which includes Patrick Rodgers, Joseph Bramlet and Kevin Dougherty, who yet has a hole still to play.
Representing Bermuda’s best hope of making the cut, Smith recovered from a disastrous opening nine holes, where he carded four bogeys, including consecutive blunders on the 14th, 15th and 16th holes, after starting on the back nine.
A birdie at 17 commenced Smith’s recovery effort, as he added another birdie on 18 and two more after making the turn, as he stood 54th at even-par when the horn blew, ending play for the day .
“I struggled in the early part of the game where I was trying to get my body in check, my emotions in check and execute the things I’ve been working on,” said Smith soon after play was suspended due to darkness. “I talked to my caddie and it was a case of me needing to take my time, slow down and execute.
“I was able to do that and get my first birdie at 17, another at 18.
“I was ale to keep it solid. I kept everything in front of me and stayed positive.”
Contrastingly Jones sparkled on his first nine holes as he opened his quest to become the first Bermudian make the cut and be able to ‘play for pay’ on the weekend.
Birdies at holes 17 and 18 were offset by just a single bogey at the signature 16th allowing Jones to make the turn at one-under-par.
However, the second nine proved calamitous, as Jones recorded bogeys on holes one, two, four and five, spiralling to three-over and the 103rd position and needing a spectacular end to his first round when play resumes on Friday, followed by an equally superb second round in order to make the cut.
Eric West, the third local taking part likewise stands at three-over-par.
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