Graham DeLaet off to a stunning start at the Puerto Rico Open - Golf News
Canadian Graham DeLaet fired a tree-under par 69 in the opening round of the Puerto Rico Open to finish in a 13-way tie for eighth at the Trump International Golf Club, Puerto Rico, on Thursday, March 8, 2012
DeLaet, who is playing on the 2012 PGA Tour on a major medical exemption, has a superb start to his round.
He managed an eagle on the par-five second, followed by a birdie on the fifth to get to three-under par on his front nine.
However, he started off with a bogey on his back nine, which was later offset by a birdie on the par-four 17th to finish in an impressive style.
Kirk Triplett and Todd Hamilton were the other two players who played alongside DeLaet in the group. Both fired 65 and stood tied for the fourth place.
DeLaet has earned a total of $79,217 through the six starts he made this year on the PGA Tour and further needs $578,477 in 20 events to come, in order to retain his PGA Tour card for the 2013 season.
He made his debut on the PGA Tour in 2010 and retained his tour card for the 2011 season.
However, later in 2011, he had to take the major medical exemption because of the herniated disk in his back.
He returned to action in 2012 and the last event that he played was Honda Classic. He missed the cut with 73 in both the first two rounds.
The other two Canadian players, apart from DeLaet, participating in the event are Stephen Ames and Matt McQuillan.
Stephen Ames mixed his two birdies with two bogeys and a double bogey to tie for the 85th spot at two-over par 74.
On the other hand, McQuillan completely appeared to be faltering on the course, as he scored seven bogeys along with a double bogey against his only eagle on the par-five third.
He finished tied for the 127th position with a score of seven-over par 79.
Matt Jones and George McNeill both scored a six-under par 66 in their opening rounds to share the lead at the Trump International. Ben Curtis was a further shot behind to take the third spot on the leaderboard.
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