Weekley, De Jonge lead in Louisiana
Boo Weekley posted his lowest score in over two years to grab a share of the 18-hole lead at the PGA Tour Zurich Classic in New Orleans on Thursday.
The American carded an eight-under 64, shooting an eagle, seven birdies and a solitary bogey, to match the efforts of Zimbabwe’s Brendon de Jonge.
Weekly has missed the cut in four of his last six tournaments, but identified and the rectified the problem in recent weeks. The results showed in round one.
“You go to tinkering around with clubs and you finally find a shaft, and True Temper finally stepped up and built me a set of clubs and they worked,” Weekley told the Associated Press.
“I’ve been missing something in my game, and it was because I haven’t been able to control my irons. It just starts messing with you mentally.”
A three time winner on the PGA Tour, Weekley felt that he could have carded an even better score at the rain-drenched TPC Louisiana course.
“I felt like if the putts would have fallen it could have been a 59, easy. I felt like I should have easily shot 8 under on the front side.”
De Jonge, who started on the back nine, posted eight birdies in total and six of them came in two separate spells of three in a row. First, between the 11th and 13th holes and then from the fourth to sixth.
The former Zimbabwe Sportsman of the Year winner has not carded a better score in over a year.
“I left a couple of shots on the par fives but made it up on the par fours. The course was there for the taking,” he said
“You’ve obviously got to hit the fairways, but the Tour let us play (lift, clean and place), so that was the key out there today.”
The overnight leaders are trailed by David Hearn and Sean O’Hair, who are tied for second on seven-under.
A pack of five players are tied for fifth on six under. Defending champion Seung-Yul Noh is tied for 112th after carding a one-over 73.
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