Mahan fires 62 to lead at The Barclays
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With two perfect shots, Hunter Mahan put a terrible week at the PGA Championship behind him at The Barclays.
Playing in calm morning conditions at demanding Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J., Mahan split the fairway with his opening drive, then watched his 98-yard sand wedge spin back into the hole for an eagle. Seventeen holes and eight birdies later, he signed for a 9-under-par 62, good for a four-stroke lead yesterday in the
Paul Casey shot a 66, and Bo Van Pelt, Kevin Streelman, Mathew Goggin, Charley Hoffman, and Dudley Hart had 67s. Steve Stricker, the winner last year at Westchester Country Club, topped the group at 68.
Trying to earn a spot on the Ryder Cup team as one of Paul Azinger's four captain's picks, Mahan hit 11 of 14 fairways, 15 greens in regulation, and needed only 23 putts.
"I was surprised to shoot so low," Mahan said. "I didn't have any idea what was going to be a good score out here . . . It's definitely not that easy. It's perfect conditions. Playing in the morning helped a lot. The greens were a little bit more receptive."
Two weeks ago in the PGA at Oakland Hills, Mahan, 26, shot 81-79 to miss the cut.
European - Rolf Muntz birdied three straight holes to start the back nine and shot a bogey-free 6-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead in the first round of the KLM Open in Zandvoort, Netherlands.
Denmark's Soren Hansen overcame a double-bogey 6 at No. 9 with four birdies on the back to shoot 65 and share second with John Bickerton.
US Amateur - Danny Lee, the world's top-ranked amateur at 18, cruised past both of his opponents in match play in Pinehurst, N.C., dominating Clemson freshman Jacob Burger, 5 and 4, in the second round, then Wichita State's Connor McHenry, 7 and 6, in the Round of 16. Peter Uihlein of Rochester, Mass., was defeated by Derek Fathauer in 20 holes.
