STUARD LEADS RAIN-HIT BARBASOL CHAMPIONSHIP IN LOS ANGELES, CATCH ALL THE ACTION ON DSTV
Seamus Power of Ireland plays his second shot on the 11th hole during the second round of the Barbasol Championship at Keene Trace Golf Club on July 16, 2021 in Nicholasville, Kentucky.
By KGG CORRESPONDENT
Brian Stuard fired an eight-under par 64 to seize a one-shot clubhouse lead in Thursday’s opening round at the Barbasol Championship in Nicholasville, Kentucky.
A total of 30 players were unable to finish as play was eventually called after being suspended twice due to rain and lightning on the Keene Trace Golf Club course.
The first round will resume Friday at 8:10 am, with the second round beginning as scheduled at 7:45 am.
Stuard got off to a hot start making birdie on his first two holes en route to nine birdies for the round. His only blemish was a bogey on his ninth hole on the day.
Americans Ryan Armour and Vaughn Taylor are in the clubhouse with seven others tied for second at seven under, one stroke behind. Three more were on the course at seven under when darkness halted play. Seven others were two shots adrift.
Defending champ Jim Herman shot a 67 and is tied for 21st.
The event was canceled last year because of the global Covid-19 pandemic.
SuperSport viewers on DStv can look forward to seeing all the action from the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship at the Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Kentucky daily through to it’s climax on Sunday 18 July 2021.
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The Barbasol Championship is an alternate event held on the same dates as The Open Championship. The first three editions of the tournament were played in Alabama at the Grand National course of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. It was the first PGA Tour event played in Alabama since the PGA Championship in 1990.
In 2018, the tournament moved to Kentucky at the Keene Trace Golf Club and was the first PGA Tour event (excluding majors) in the state in 59 years, since the Kentucky Derby Open in 1959.
Last year’s Barbasol Championship was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, meaning 2019 champion Jim Herman (who beat Kelly Draft by one stroke) remains the king of the Keene Trace Golf Club and is looking forward to defending his title.
“You know you can never replicate what went on the previous year,” said Herman. “But you’re just trying to draw on those good feelings.”
On what took him to victory two years ago, Herman explained, “The putting was obviously it. But I gave myself looks. You can’t make birdie putts if you’re not putting for birdie.”
The 43-year-old American, who has also won the 2016 Shell Houston Open and 2020 Wyndham Championship on the PGA Tour, added: “[The 2019 Barbasol Championship] definitely rejuvenated me. I don’t know if it was just lightning in a bottle that week.
Herman also expects a large crowd in Nicholasville after Kentucky golf fans were deprived of last year’s event: “Sports fans are looking to get out and show their support of their local events,” said Herman. “I think the fans in Lexington are going to definitely be out in full force.”
The Champion Trace Course is a 7,081 yard par 72 course. The purse for the Barbasol Championship is $3.5million.
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PGA Tour Barbasol Championship broadcast details
All times CAT
Friday 16 July
23:00: Day 2 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf
Saturday 17 July
22:00: Day 3 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf
Sunday 18 July
22:00: Day 4 – LIVE on SuperSport Golf