A spectacular introduction to the Pinehurst Resort greeted the competitors of the 2016 Golfbreaks.com Pinehurst Pro-Am as the tournament got off to an excellent start, with Sam Cutting getting his campaign off on the right foot with an opening two-under par 70.
Following a practice round on the beautiful setting of Course No. 6, the competitors were faced with the challenging No. 8 Course for their first round.
A level par front nine that saw two bogeys cancelled out by two birdies set the tone for Cutting’s inward nine. Bogeys on 10 & 13 were cancelled out by birdies on 12 & 14 and two further birdies in the closing four holes saw him sign for the lead.
“It’s fantastic here – today was a very good golf course, and very tricky in spots,” explained Cutting. “We’re all looking forward to playing different golf courses each day…and the challenges that will bring.”
A single shot back is the 2015 Champion, Simon Edwards (PGA of Great Britain & Ireland), who also got off to a fast start with a birdie at the first. A further birdie at seven was followed immediately by a bogey on eight, however, a steady one-under 35 on the second nine in which two birdies were canceled out with two bogeys set him up for a 71 (-1) total.
“It is really nice to come back and play Pinehurst again after last year…and being injured earlier this year,” said Edwards. “But it was great just a pleasure to be here.
“They are all world-class golf courses and if you hit it good you are going to score well, the greens are phenomenal there’s not really anywhere you would rather be in the middle of March. To play the No. 2 Course will be a joy – to play where US Opens and Championships have been held will be fantastic.”
In the Team Pro-Am competition it was the Cutting-led team who took the early initiative after a super 84-point total (-12). Similar to the Professional Individual, it is only a slight lead with the team led by PGA of GB&I Professional, Steve Furlonger, just one point behind, and with three rounds to go it is very much all to play for.
For Full Round 01 Scores Visit: http://eur.pe/2016Pinehurst
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