Spencer Levin fights the wind and surges into the lead of Honda Classic R1- PGA Tour update
Spencer Levin put up a score of 3-under-par 67 in the opening round of the $5.7-million Honda Classic at the par-70 Champion Course at PGA National Resort & Spa and surged into the clubhouse lead on Thursday.
The American teed off from the front on frozen tees, courtesy of the snow that peppered the course in the morning. He managed to earn the first birdie of the tournament on the par-5 third hole. However, on his way to the fifth fairway, the player missed a shot, which later in the day turned into a bogey on the scorecard. Levin did not wait for the wind to stop and hit a 5-iron on the closing hole of the front, which helped him counter the previous loss via a birdie.
Levin wrapped the front with a score of one-under-par.
Levin, a resident of Sacramento, walked towards the back and maneuvered a fantastic drive on the tee and hit a 9-iron on the fairway, which left him with a 10-footer on the green. The player repeated the strategy on the following hole, although the intensity of the wind was working against his game. Despite the wind, Levin hit a 5-iron to within three feet from the fairway and reeled another point against the wind.
Levin attained 78 per cent in Green Hits in Regulations and finished third overall. Despite conquering the top most spot on the leader board, Levin remarked the course as, “a heck of a golf course.” He explained, “Those last four holes are hard anyway. And then you throw a 30-mile-an-hour wind in your face on three of them, it makes it even that much more difficult. So very, very pleased with 3-under.”
Levin was tied in a play-off match at Mayakoba Golf Classic last Sunday. He lost it to Johnson Wagner when he bogeyed the extra hole in his first attempt. The 26-year-old player has had three wins on the Canadian tour and is expecting his first victory on the Professional Golf Association tour in the coming week.
Levin is a big hitter, but he lacks driving accuracy, which plays an essential part in chasing victory at American courses. The critics blame the wind as the culprit in his case during the first round. However, will he be able to chase the desired driving accuracy stats in the coming rounds is yet to find out.
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