Spencer Levin takes the lead during the first round of the Honda Classic – PGA Tour Update
The Professional Golfer’s Association Tour event of the Honda Classic teed off yesterday at the challenging par-70, Spa-Champion course in Florida with American Spencer Levin leading the tournament after the first round with a score of three-under par 67.
The conditions on the first day were extremely windy, but Levin still managed to post his name on top of the leader board. This tournament sponsored by Honda has total prize money of 5.7-million-dollars and the beautiful trophy for the taking.
Levin was in great shape with his iron shots and putted well throughout the day on the fast greens. The pin placement was challenging and it was difficult to attack the flag on every hole. The American recently lost in last week’s Mayakoba Golf Classic in
a play-off with Johnson Wagner and is looking to bounce back in this championship. There was only a single bogey on his card on the tough par-3, 5th where his iron shot landed just off the green. His card also showed four birdies which was enough
to lead the tournament. The 26-year-old is yet to mark his first PGA Tour victory and is confident that he will lift the title.
The overwhelmed leader after his first round said, "It's a different kind of golf course. You gain momentum on a hole and the next hole you lose your temperament with a bad putt. If you hit a good drive, you don't want to get too cute and try to go at a
pin, because you know pars are going to be a good score."
There is a five-way tie for the second spot after the first round concluded yesterday. As expected, the players who card under par rounds will be among the top slots. Stuart Appleby, Charl Schwartzel, Kyle Stanley, Greg Chalmers and Y.E. Yang all share the
second position and have a deficit of just one stroke from the leader Levin.
Korean Y.E. Yang, who won this championship two years back also was among the top contenders and trails by a mere margin of just one stroke. Yang was a bit wayward in his first nine holes, as he was getting used to the conditions. He then made two birdies
on the back nine and did not have a blemish. The 39-year-old was very satisfied with the way he was hitting the ball and putting. He is confident of curbing the challenge on the next three days and posting his name on the trophy for the second time.
Colombian Camilo Villegas, who is the defending champion failed to repeat his performance this year. Villegas had a disastrous round of nine-over par and might not make it through to the cutline on the second day.
World number two, Lee Westwood had a rather moderate round of even-par 70, as he needs to finish among the top three after the tournament concludes to regain his number one rankings. Westwood had three birdies and three bogeys in his round. The Englishman
is confident to finish among the top three on the final day of the tournament.
The windy conditions on the second day will remain the same and the pin placements will surely be a challenge for all the players present on the field. The fast greens will be the main factor which will not be easy to read.
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