Photo by Kyle Coburn/NAPGT :: Story by Stacia Golem/NAPGT
August 28, 2007 (PLYMOUTH, MA)—With cloudless blue skies, plenty of sunshine and a refreshing breeze, it was a perfect day for golf on the first day of the Pine Hills Open.
Owing to the weather and the great conditions on the Nicklaus course, many golfers had low scores; eighteen players chalked up sub-par rounds.
Nick Cook, Rodney Butcher and Matt Donovan are tied for the lead at five under, 67. All seem to feel that their score was a result of solid play on a great course.
“I think Jack Nicklaus designed courses test your visual lines but there’s usually more space than you think,” said Butcher, who had five birdies and no bogies. “You could hit it in the rough, but there’s some space between the edge of the rough and complete disaster,” something he said he luckily avoided, especially off the tee.
Donovan, of Pittsfield, MA, also had very steady play this first round, saying that “eliminating the bogies was key for the most part.” He made six birdies and only one bogie after finding a bunker on hole eight, his seventeenth. “It’s a forgiving course, but you still gotta have good shots on the green,” he said.
Tied for fourth place are Dan Walters and Jesse Smith at four under, 68. They both echoed the sentiments of the leaders, speculating on their results: solid play, great course.
Smith said he made all his putts that were within six feet, in addition to driving the ball well. “When you drive the ball well and putt well, especially on this course, you give yourself a lot of chances,” he said.
Similarly, Walters said he owes his score to birdies and a hot putter, but overall he was excited to play on this course again. “I made the putts,” he said. “But I was just trying to enjoy it. It’s a beautiful place.”
Tied for sixth at three under, 69 are Billy Downes, David Allen, Justin Goodhue and John Stoltz.
Since there are many low scores and it is still early in the tournament, the players are trying not to get too excited about their standings. “There’s a lot of golf left,” said Cook.
