By Mike Fields
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. — J.T. Poston fired a 10-under par 62 at Champions at Keene Trace on Thursday as he tries to get his first victory on the PGA Tour at the Barbasol Championship.
Poston is off to a great start. He tied the course record set by Steve Flesch in 1991 and Troy Merritt last year.
Merritt also shot his 62 in the first round on his way to winning the Barbasol at 23-under.
“Hopefully I keep that same momentum that Troy did,” Poston said after carding his lowest score on the PGA TOUR.
Coming into the Barbasol, Poston had missed the cut in five of his previous eight starts. But he tied for 11th at the Rocket Mortgage in Detroit two weeks ago, which kept him in a positive frame of mind.
It wasn’t surprising to him that he got out of the gate so quickly at Champions.
“It might be surprising to people watching from a distance, but I feel like I’ve hit it good for a while now,” Poston said. “I missed the cut (at the John Deere Classic) last week, but I didn’t feel like I played bad. I feel like I’ve hit it good, especially with my irons, the last month or month-and-a-half.”
The 26-year-old Western Carolina alum birdied six of the first eight holes Thursday, had a hiccup bogey at No. 9, but regrouped on the back with five more birdies, including one at the 18th.
“It was one of those days where everything clicked,” he said. “I was hitting it so good I didn’t have a lot of lengthy birdie putts.”
Poston’s 11 birdies not only benefited him, they benefited the Jared Lorenzen Memorial Fund that Kentucky Sports Radio established to help pay for college for Lorenzen’s two children.
Poston’s caddie, Aaron Flener of Glasgow, is a former writer for KSR and wanted to do something in Lorenzen’s memory.
So he and Poston are each donating $22 for each birdie Poston makes this week. His 11 birdies yesterday added up to $484.
“Jared was a Kentucky sports hero, larger than life,” Flener said. “I wanted to do something this week to honor him, to let people know we’re still thinking about him. He meant a lot to people in this state.”
Poston was eager to be part of it, too.
“It’s a good cause,” he said. “My caddie is a big Kentucky fan, and we’re a team so I’m going to jump behind him and be a part of it as well. Anything for a good cause … and hopefully we can make some more birdies this week.”
For complete information on the Barbasol Championship please visit: www.barbasolchampionship.com
Barbasol tickets are on sale now: barbasolchampionship.com/tickets/
Add Comment