By mathematics of Sepp Straka, two out of three equal to 64 and a part of the lead in the Scottish Open.
Straka on Thursday shut down a 6-under-Burbar to end the first round at the North Barwick’s Renaissance Club in a four-way tie over the leaderboard.
“My iron game was very good,” Straka said. “The driver is not so much, but the chipping was really good, and I made a lot of puts too. At any time they are working, the scores are usually going to be very good.”
The 64 course was Strock’s individual-master-state and Austrian was tied with Victor Perez (France), Nico Ichavaria (Colombia) and American Jake Kannap, who has a career win over the PGA Tour (2024, Mexico Open).
A large hitter from T, Kannap’s first competitive tournament round on the bogie-free round syllabus. He posted six Birds and created an impossible 35-foot Birdi at Par-4 4th. Kannap was in the first stroke, when his round was wrapped at that time, 32 were shot at that time and back.
“It’s too big. The bottom holes, try to take advantage of my length and clearly try to keep it out of all bunkers,” Kannap said. “This has been our main focus. I have been running it well since last month. Drink it well in Detroit, so I am trying to maintain that trend. When I can do, just use my length.”
Germany’s Marsel Siem and Matty Schmid shot 65 with Calum Hill of Scotland and 65 with England’s Marco Penn, fired a bullet behind the leaders.
Hill said, “It was really good fun. It is good to come here, perhaps the biggest event of the year for Scottish people, and a good start. It’s great.”
4-under-underworks are Victor Hoveland (Norway), Ryan Fox (New Zealand), Americans Wineham Clarke and Keith Michelle and Tom Kim (Korea).
Straka birds four of their first seven holes, shot at 31 at its initial nine and was at 7-underer with four holes on Thursday. He gave back two shots to take a bogie at Par-3 6th and Par-4 7, then recovered with a shirt at number 8.
“Hawa raised around the bend, and yes, when I got to play the ball, my iron game was very good and took advantage of it,” Strock said. “But a lot of squirrels also drive. Some up-and-down saved me. Yes, it was a good way to finish.”
Ichweria birds three consecutive holes – 14 16 – and fulfilled their highest priority to keep their ball out of the bunker away from T.
He said, “This is important to hit the fairway because there is no spin in the ball from the rough and it can roll on the greens, really tough bounce,” he said. “I was able to do this and looked at myself and I was able to convert.”
Rory McLoy of Northern Ireland, the winner in 2023, who stood fourth last year, was with a group in 2-ends and a large-scale logzam with Scotland’s Robert McIntire, Xander Schauffele, Nicolai Hodgard, Colin Moricaard and Daniel Burjar.
Perez, who came out of a top -20 at the US Open, later played in the wave on Thursday, closed with seven birdies and four on their last five holes.
The US Open Champion JJ Spon was also equal and finished 68th. Spain had Birdies at 16 and 17, after shooting 2-over 37 on the front nine.
-Bield level media
