Day 1: Three Share lead at Humana Challenge
PGA Tour rookie James Hahn and second-year players Roberto Castro and Jason Kokrak share a one-shot lead over four golfers entering today’s second round of the $5.6 million Humana Challenge.
Hahn, Castro and Kokrak all fired bogey-free rounds of nine-under-par 63s Thursday. Aaron Baddeley, Greg Chalmers, Russell Henley and Doug LaBelle II are all one shot back at eight-under-64.
Hahn had birdies on the second, fourth and fifth holes at the Palmer Private Course at PGA West, then finished the front nine with three consecutive birdies. He also birdied the 11th, 12th and 18th holes.
“Today was one of those days that I feel grateful to be here,” Hahn said.
The 31-year-old Hahn is playing in his third PGA Tour event. He tied for 67th in last week’s Sony Open and missed the cut in the 2012 U.S. Open.
While pursuing his dream of playing professional golf, Hahn worked for an advertising agency in his hometown of Alameda, obtained a real estate license and sold shoes at Nordstrom.
“Every job that I had was a great experience for me because I just like challenges,” said Hahn, a 2003 graduate of UC Berkeley who has played on the Web.com and Canadian tours.
Castro, 27, birdied the first and second holes at the Nicklaus Private Course at PGA West, along with the sixth, ninth and 10th. He had three consecutive birdies from the 12 through 14th holes and ended his round with a birdie on the 18th.
Kokrak, 27, began his round at La Quinta County Club playing the back nine. He birdied the 10th hole, had an eagle on the 11, birdies on the 14th, 15th and another eagle on the sixth, then finished his round with three consecutive pars.
Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion, was among 12 players who shot six-under-par 66s, putting them three shots behind the leaders. Pat Perez, who won the 2009 Bob Hope Classic for his lone PGA Tour victory, was five back at four-under-par 68, along with Robert Allenby, Carl Pettersson and Boo Weekley.
Phil Mickelson shot an even-par-72 at La Quinta Country Club, putting him in a 13-way tie for 122nd in the 156-player field.
“My timing and rhythm was off a little bit today,” Mickelson said. “My putter was atrocious and I’ve been putting great too.”
Most of the biggest names in golf, such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, the world’s top-ranked player, bypassed the Humana Challenge in favor of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in the United Arab Emirates.
