Lebioda powers to Pebble Seashore first-round lead

Hank Lebioda was firing on all cylinders on Thursday, firing 9 birdies in an eight-under-par 63 to take the first-round lead within the US PGA Tour Pebble Seashore Professional-Am.

Lebioda mentioned it “felt like all the pieces” was working for him at Monterey Peninsula, the par-71 course that’s certainly one of three in use over the primary three rounds together with Pebble Seashore Golf Hyperlinks and Spyglass Hill — each par-72 layouts.

“I hit lots of nice iron pictures. I made the putts after I was shut. It was a very nice day,” added the 29-year-old American, who’s ranked 420th on this planet and seeking a primary US PGA Tour title.

Lebioda, who hasn’t made a reduce on Tour for the reason that 3M Open in July, tied his career-low rating and was a stroke away from England’s Harry Corridor and People Kurt Kitayama and Chad Ramey.

Corridor and Kitayama each carded seven-under 64s at Monterey Peninsula whereas Ramey posted a seven-under 65 at Pebble Seashore.

Lebioda mentioned current work on his placing was lastly beginning to repay.

“For most likely the final couple weeks or so I felt like my placing had actually turned a nook,” he mentioned. “Although I could not have proven the outcomes. However I felt extra assured standing over the ball. I favored what I used to be taking a look at visually standing over it. I knew it was only a matter of time.

“So right this moment, luckily it was one of many days the place fairly just a few of ’em did go in. Not every single day is like that. I used to be glad I used to be capable of reap the benefits of it right this moment.”

Corridor teed off on 10 at Monterey Peninsula and his seven-under effort featured an eagle on the sixteenth gap and a string of 5 straight birdies from the third by the seventh, a run that ended along with his second bogey of the day, on the eighth.

“Stored it in play off the tee,” Corridor mentioned. “Hit loads fairways. Hit lots of greens.”

after failing to reap the benefits of two early par-fives, he hit driver off the tee at 16 and a hybrid second shot that left him a 20-foot eagle putt.

“The birdie streak on the entrance was fairly cool as a result of I believe I went bogey after which had a par on the second gap after which had 5 in a row from three onwards. So it was actually good,” he mentioned.

Corridor was particularly happy to search out himself within the clubhouse one off the lead since “coming down the final two holes it began to blow 45 miles an hour.

“It was loopy,” he mentioned, and extra wind and doable rain was within the forecast for the remainder of the week.

– ‘Cool expertise’ for Bale –

The blustery winds have been simply one other problem within the event that options not solely the complication of three programs however the addition of amateurs taking part in alongside the professionals.

The celebrities teeing it up this yr embrace such sports activities stars as Inexperienced Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and lately retired Wales captain Gareth Bale.

Bale admitted to some first-time nerves on the primary tee.

“I believe each beginner will let you know, though we’re used to taking part in in entrance of 80,000 or extra live on TV, it is a utterly completely different sport,” he mentioned. “Outdoors your consolation zone and one thing that is simply completely different. It is a cool expertise. Fortunate that I hit certainly one of my finest pictures down the primary fairway, which was good.”

Defending champion Tom Hoge, who out-dueled Jordan Spieth final yr to win his first PGA Tour title, carded a one-under 71 at Pebble Seashore.

Spieth posted a one-under spherical at Spyglass Hill.

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