RCA Telegram News California - South Korea's Lee takes PGA lead after Theegala's two bogeys

South Korea's Lee takes PGA lead after Theegala's two bogeys
South Korea's Lee takes PGA lead after Theegala's two bogeys

South Korea's Lee takes PGA lead after Theegala's two bogeys

Sahith Theegala stumbled with a bogey-bogey finish to his opening round Friday morning at the US PGA Tour Phoenix Open, handing South Korean Lee Kyoung-hoon a one-stroke lead after 18 holes.

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Theegala, a 24-year-old American chasing his first PGA title, had reeled off four consecutive birdies on one stretch after starting on the back nine, but was undone after finding a fairway bunker in near-darkness Thursday at the par-4 eighth hole at TPC Scottsdale.

Theegala left himself a 16-foot par putt when play resumed Friday after being stopped because of the gloom, but missed it to make his first bogey of the round.

He followed with a bogey at the par-4 ninth, finding another fairway bunker and missing a par putt from just beyond 13 feet, to finish on 66 after the completion of the first round.

That left Lee atop the leaderboard after his six-under par 65 on Thursday with Theegala sharing second, one stroke off the pace, along with fellow Americans Brooks Koepka, a four-time major winner, and Harry Higgs and Canada's Adam Hadwin.

Lee, 30, won his only PGA title last May at the Byron Nelson.

J.Lee--RTC