Tim Petrovic, John Mallinger, Brendon de Jonge, Peter Lonard, in joint lead at Viking Classic on PGA Tour
Some six players topped the leaderboard of the Viking Classic on PGA Tour in the sweaty Mississippi summer. Tim Petrovic, John Mallinger, Brendon de Jonge, Peter Lonard, Sunghoon Kang and Bobby Gates all scored rounds of seven-under, 65 to rise to the top,
battering the rain soaked Annandale Golf Club.
The event is being played adjacent to the third major of the season, the Open Championship on the other side of the Atlantic and as result, has half the FedEx Cup points and a reduced purse of $3.6-million.
“When you're hitting it like I hit it today, making some putts, you don't tend to sweat so much. Makes your life a little easier,” said Petrovic. “The greens are rolling so pure right now. If you just hit it straight, you've got a really good chance.”
Petrovic pulled in seven birdies without dropping a shot in his opening 18 holes.
Mallinger, on the other hand, could have easily emerged as an outright leader if he had not dropped two shots at par-three, 2nd and par-three, 15th. He carded nine staggering birdies to remain in contention for the top slot.
PGA Tour officials allowed the players to pick their balls and clean them up before making the putts. The consecutive rains in the past week have rendered the greens softer reducing the ball speed on the Stimpmeter. Mallinger was visibly happy with the decision.
“When you get the ball in the hand all the time, you can be a little more aggressive at the flag,” said Mallinger.
Australian Lonard, who recently won the Mexican Open on the Nationwide Tour, was one of the late arrivals for the tournament and did not have his practice round on Wednesday, and though he missed the chance to acclimatize himself with the course, he was
happy with the overall outcome of the day.
Another group of nine players is tied for the seventh spot, just one shot behind the leaders including Chez Reavie and Hunter Hass. The course has turned out to be relatively easy as some 47 players are in contention, within three shots from the leaders.
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