Lights Out First Round by Sheehan

For a moment, it seemed as if Patrick Sheehan had the ability to match the PGA Tour scoring record of 59. Instead, his luck ran out on the ninth hole with a double bogey. The ninth hole seemed to be taking place in slow motion for Sheehan. He drove into a fairway bunker, then bladed his second shot into another fairway bunker, followed by having to lay up with a wedge to avoid the water hazard. Still, Patrick Sheehan holds the record for the lowest first round score (62) at the Bank of America Colonial. Sheehan tore up the rest of the field with an amazing 11 birdies although he didn’t find every fairway or green in regulation.

While you read or watch a first round summary from another site or television station, you will most likely come across something to the effect that Patrick Sheehan had a poor round or he missed the boat on having an incredible record setting round. They are forgetting one thing though, he is leading the field by two-strokes! Patrick Sheehan has only been playing on the PGA Tour for three years and has yet to win. Looking through his stats this year, you will find that he is in the middle of the pack when it comes to most categories, except total birdies. Sheehan is ranked seventh in total birdies with 178, and today he proved that he can get on a strong birdie streak. He also only had 20 putts on the day, which is suprising since the majority of his approaches weren’t even close. Only two of Sheehan’s birdie putts were under 10 feet in length. He also chipped in for birdie twice.

“I didn’t hit it great, I didn’t drive it great. It was just weird how everything seemed to be going in,” Patrick Sheehan said.

It looks as if defending champion Steve Flesch will not be able to pull off two consecutive wins at Colonial, a feat that has only been accomplished by Ben Hogan. Things obviously were not working out for Flesch, who is in 113th place in a 114 player field, after an opening round of 79. While it’s not impossible to come back after an opening score of 79, it will be very difficult to accomplish after the performance of Patrick Sheehan and others.

With all of the fuss about Kenny Perry’s poor vision making it hard for him to read the greens, he is tied for fourth place after a first round of 65. He is relying on his caddy to read the greens for him until he can try out glasses in Memphis next week. Hopefully his caddy is being paid well because Perry did not have one three-putt today.

Kirk Triplett’s story is just as amazing as that of Kenny Perry. On Monday, Triplett hurt his back, leaving him unable to play in the practice rounds, let alone hit balls on the range. On Thursday morning he finally picked up a club and warmed up. He played incredibly well with a bogey-free round of 66.

Ted Purdy, who is running hot after his first PGA Tour victory at last week’s EDS Byron Nelson Championship, was tied with five other players at four under par 66.

Other notables were Phil Mickelson (+1), Chris Dimarco (+1), Sergio Garcia (-1), and Kevin Stadler (+7).

For Friday’s second round, sunshine and high temperatures are expected.

Pos  Player              Today  Total
1    Patrick Sheehan      -8     62
T2   Brian Bateman        -6     64
T2   D.J. Trahan          -6     64
T4   Kenny Perry          -5     65
T4   Brandt Jobe          -5     65
T4   Kevin Na             -5     65    
T7   Stephen Leaney       -4     66
T7   Ted Purdy            -4     66    
T7   Kirk Triplett        -4     66
T7   Harrison Frazar      -4     66
T7   Rod Pampling         -4     66

Photo Credits: © Marc Feldman/ WireImage