Let’s see. Hunters Ridge Golf Course is dry and the greens are relatively receptive. It made for some nice scoring Thursday in the first round of the 21stannual TrueNorth Greater Cedar Rapids Open, presented by UFG Insurance.
A total of 58 players are under par and 19 are within four shots of the lead heading into Friday’s second round of the 54-hole event.
Johnny Watts, a 23-year-old graduate of Ball State, fired a 8-under par 64 and leads the field by one shot after Thursday’s first round.
Watts is one shot ahead of Matt Picanso (Vista, CA) and GCRO veteran Hunter O’Mahony (Jupiter, FL), who had to apologize to the group in front of his after virtually driving the 335-yard 15thhole while they were on the green.
Former University of Iowa golfer Brian Bullington and 2018 third-place finisher Chris Gilman are among four tied at 6-under par 66. Bullington is well aware of where he is. He led the tournament after one round last year. Gilman is capable and ready. Thomas Eldridge (Raleigh, NC) and Samuel Cyr (Makawao, HI) are also at minus 6.
Defending champion Nate Yankovich shot a 2-under 70 and 2018 runner-up Brant Peaper is at 3-under 69.
“Today was a pretty easy-going day,” said Watts in an email. “I hit a lot of greens and the putter was lights out. I missed a shorter birdie putt on 2, and after that it fueled a lot of birdies. They always say it’s hard to follow up a low round with another low round, but everything seems to be working nicely. Excited to get tomorrow’s round going, looking forward to a great day!”
Watts had birdies on five straight holes on the front nine before bogeying 8. He added an eagle on 12 and two more birdies for the lead.
O’Mahony, who has played on the PGA LatinoAmerica Tour, had five birdies and an eagle. He was pleased with his round.
“I played really nicely today. Hit 17 of 18 greens which always helps. Took advantage of the shots that I hit close and made a couple 20-footers.”
Of the incident at 15 …
“(I) drove the green on 15 and just apologized because I didn’t think I would hit it passed pin high,” said O’Mahony in an email.
Picanso, who has also played on PGA LatinoAmerica as well as the Mackenzie Tour in Canada, had a well-tuned game.
“My round today was extremely solid,” said Picanso. “I missed one green in regulation and I knew that I could post a score if I took advantage of the front nine with my driver. And I did exactly that. The back 9 is a little tricky and you have to be smart and plot your way around on most of the holes. I did a good job of that. Greens were great today, too.”
Picanso had six birdies on the front nine and two more on the back.
Second-round action continues Friday. After play Friday a cut to the top 40 and ties will take place heading into Saturday’s final round.
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