Chris Kirk finished runner-up last month at Sanderson Farms and he got off to a fast start Thursday at the OHL Classic.
Kirk put up a bogey-free round of 63 and found himself a shot in front of veterans Camilo Villegas, Gary Woodland and Ben Crane. It was a good day for Crane, who withdrew last week with an injury but showed himself to be pretty healthy with a seven-under par 64 at the tight and demanding El Camaleon Golf Club.
The one name that stood out among the veteran players at the top was former NCAA individual champion and Oregon Duck — Aaron Wise. Wise got his day going with a hole-in-one at the par three fourth, just 116-yards. He followed that with an eagle at the par five fifth. He would finish with a 65 that got him in a group with former U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson and Scott Piercy.
Disappointment of the day was the 75 by defending champion Graeme McDowell, who will need a low number on Friday to make it to the weekend.
