Chris Kirk shot a spotless 9-under-par 63 on Thursday to snatch a one-shot lead at the World Wide Technology Championship in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Kirk birdied five of the final seven holes at El Cardonal at Diamante. The biggest highlight was a 70-foot birdie putt he hammered home at the par-3 16th.
As first-round play wound down Thursday, Zac Blair birdied four of his final five holes to reach 8-under 64 and tie Nick Dunlap for second. Tied for third at 7-under 65 were Taylor Montgomery, Ben James, Frenchman Matthieu Pavon, Englishman Harry Hall and Japan’s Kensei Hirata.
Kirk, 41, entered the week No. 110 in the FedEx Cup Fall standings and his PGA Tour exempt status expiring at year’s end. A victory would rocket him up to a projected 57th in the points race. The top 100 players at the end of the fall retain full-time status on tour.
Notable names lower on the leaderboard included Tony Finau, Jackson Koivun, Ben Griffin, Lucas Glover and Billy Horschel, all part of a tie at 2-under 70. They will have work to do to make the 36-hole cut Friday.