SOUTH CAROLINA — Former world No. 1 Luke Donald, looking to break through at the RBC Heritage after many close calls, shot a six-under-par 65 that left him two shots off the lead after the opening round in South Carolina Thursday.
Englishman Donald, who was tied with Canada’s Graham DeLaet and American Sam Saunders in second place, made an eagle, five birdies and a bogey to hold the clubhouse lead until Bud Cauley birdied four of the final five holes to grab the outright lead.
“Obviously, I’ve had a lot of success here in the last eight years, done everything but win,” said 39-year-old Donald, who has finished second four times here and third twice in eight starts.
England’s Ian Poulter, Ireland’s Shane Lowry, New Zealand’s Danny Lee and American Russell Henley were among a group of six golfers who were three shots off the lead at the picturesque Harbour Town course on Hilton Head Island.
Donald hit the shot of his round at his 11th hole, the par-five second, when his 209-yard approach from the pine straw got to within three feet, resulting in an eagle putt that brought him to five under.
Donald, whose best result this year is a tie for 17th at the Genesis Open in February and who has fallen to 96th in the rankings, picked up another stroke at the par-five fifth hole before capping his round with four consecutive pars.
Matt Kuchar, fresh off a tie for fourth at the US Masters where his final-round 67 matched the day’s lowest score, shot a three-under-par 68 and was tied in 19th place along with South Africa’s Branden Grace, twice winner Jim Furyk and twice major winner Martin Kaymer of Germany.
American Furyk, who won here in 2015 but missed last year’s RBC Heritage after wrist surgery, pitched in from 85 feet for an eagle at the par-five fifth before mixing two birdies with a bogey on the back nine.
Ariya, Kim share lead
Ariya Jutanugarn and Kim In-kyung each birdied their final hole Thursday to share the lead during the suspended second round of the LPGA Lotte Championship.
Jutanugarn had a bogey-free 6-under 66, and Kim shot 64 to reach 9-under 135 at Ko Olina golf Club. Jutanugarn won five times last season and was the LPGA Tour’s player of the year.
Kim, a 28-year-old from Seoul who already has a pair of top-5 finishes here, had five consecutive birdies during one stretch for the lowest round of the day.
Jang Su-yeon, among the 15 players still on the course when play was halted due to darkness, was also at 9-under with two holes remaining. Jang doesn’t have a bogey in her first 34 holes of the tournament.
The cut will be determined after the completion of the round Friday morning.
Stacy Lewis (68), first-round co-leader Mi Hyang Lee (70), Alena Sharp (69) and Becky Morgan, who also has two holes remaining, share fourth place at 8-under. There are five golfers at 7-under, including second-ranked So Yeon-ryu (69), coming off a victory in the major ANA Inspiration, and Olympic champion Inbee Park.
Play was also halted for nearly 90 minutes earlier in the day when the course was cleared due to the threat of lightning.
Paula Creamer, co-leader after an opening 66, bogeyed both par 5s on the front nine and had a double bogey on the par-3 eighth in a 74. Defending champion Minjee Lee rallied for a 68 and is six back, while top-ranked Lydia Ko moved up 45 spots, to 40th, with a 69. Hawaii’s Michelle Wie, who won here in 2014, is tied for 60th at 1 under.
For the second straight day, a morning tee time was a huge advantage. Winds began gusting up to 20 mph as the morning groups finished. When the wind stopped, thunder, lightning and rain followed.
Lewis birdied four of her first five holes to get to 8 under early. She bogeyed the 10th just before play was suspended, but got it back with her sixth birdie of the day, at the 13th. The two-time LPGA Player of the Year is winless in her last 69 starts. — Agencies
