The new guy nearly shook things up on Thursday at Sea Island.
Mackenzie Hughes, a PGA Tour newcomer via the Web.com, came close to 59 but settled for a nine-under par 61 at the Seaside course and took the first round lead at the RSM Classic.
“I was thinking about 59 on the 12th tee,” Mackenzie confessed. He had his chances. He was nine-under par through 15 holes and needed to find a pair of birdies over the final three but it didn’t happen.
“I just wanted to be aggressive with every putt,” said the rookie from Canada. “I made a lot of putts.”
Mackenzie’s 61 was only good enough for a one-shot lead however. Veterans Stewart Cink and Jonathan Byrd both shot eight-under par 62s on the Seaside course.
Four players were tied at seven-under on a day that was perfect for scoring as 119 of the 156-man field shot under par.
It could take a score of six-under to make the 36-hole cut.
