Dean Burmester made five birdies on Thursday on his way to a four-under-par 66 in the opening round of the PGA Tour’s RSM Classic at the Sea Island Seaside Course in St Simon’s Island, Georgia.
An early bogey on the second on the second was followed by birdies on four and nine, and he made three more on 10, 12 and 15 to be in a share of 17th place after the first round. That put him two shots behind Cole Hammer, who carded his eight-under 64 on the par-72 Plantation Course. The scores will balance out after players have played a round on both the courses ahead of the cut.
Hammer, playing on a sponsor’s invitation, had a one-stroke lead over Ben Griffin, who also played on the Plantation Course. Beau Hossler of the United States and Callum Tarren of England shared third on six-under after they played on the Seaside Course, together with American Justin Suh who carded his six-under on Plantation.
Dylan Frittelli and Garrick Higgo shared 65th after carding one-under on Plantation, while MJ Daffue had a level-par 70 on the Seaside Course for a share of 86th.
