Golf: Honda Classic; Kitayama starts strong, Berger is second – Sport

(ANSA) – ROME, FEBRUARY 25 – The Honda Classic of golf in Florida has started with surprises. In Palm Beach Gardens, in the PGA Tour tournament, after the first round with a score of 64 (-6), with seven birdies and a bogey, Kurt Kitayama leads the ranking. The American, number 289 in the world, recorded his lowest career score in his 26th appearance on the circuit (surpassing what he did in 2021 at Sanderson Farms with a 66). The 29-year-old from Chico (California), who boasts two exploits on the DP World Tour in his palmares (Mauritius Open in 2018 and Oman Open in 2019), has only one shot ahead of his compatriots Daniel Berger (among the favorites on the eve) and Chris Kirk, both second with 65 (-5) like the naturalized Slovak Rory Sabbatini (silver medal at the Tokyo Games and winner of the Honda Classic in 2011). At the PGA National (Champion Course, par 70) the first round – characterized by strong gusts of wind – was suspended due to the arrival of darkness with three players stopped at hole 17. The 50th edition of the competition, deserted by the best 12 golfers in the world, sees Brooks Koepka (among the few stars of the event) in 10th place with 68 (-2). While the Australian Matt Jones, defending champion, is 104 / o with 73 (+3) and precedes the American Zach Johnson, 112 / o with 74 (+4), who on Monday 28 February could be announced as US captain. at the Ryder Cup 2023 in Rome. Louis Oosthuizen is also late. The South African, 13th in the world ranking, is only 123 / o with 75 (+5). Prowess of Curtis Thompson (brother of the Lexi project), protagonist of an eagle at hole 6 (par 4). The American is joined, among others, by the Chilean Joaquin Niemann (fresh from the success at the Genesis Invitational) and by Patrick Reed. (HANDLE).