Christiaan Bezuidenhout made an eagle, six birdies and two bogeys on Thursday on his way to a six-under-par 66 in the opening round of the PGA Tour’s American Express at La Quinta in California.
The solid opening round put Bezuidenhout four shots behind the leaders Lee Hodges and Patrick Cantlay of the United States in a share of 13th place. The leaders had a two-stroke edge over Korean KH Lee and Cameron Young of the United States.
Bezuidenhout started his round on the 10th with three consecutive birdies, but he dropped a shot on the 15th when he was unable to get up and down after a wayward tee shot on the par-three. He picked up another birdie on the 18th, and yet another after the turn on the third. His second bogey came on the fourth, but he made his eagle on the fifth when he reached the par-five in two. He rounded out his scoring with a birdie on the sixth.
Dylan Frittelli opened with a one-over-par 73 to join, amongst others, Rory Sabbatini in a share of 119th. Dawie van der Walt carded a three-over 75 and James Hart du Preez was four-over on 76 after his debut round on the PGA Tour.
