Seamus Power’s hopes of keeping his PGA Tour card continue to look uncertain after a poor start at the PGA Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned ISCO Championship in Kentucky, but things are looking brighter for Conor Purcell.
Power, ranked well outside the top 100 of the FedEx Cup felt a hangover from last weeks poor finish, carding five bogeys and just one birdie in a four-over-par 74, to sit 13 off the leader Chan Kim. Conor Purcell got off to a lightning start with an early eagle to turn at four-under-par, eventually settling for a two-under-par 68 to sit just outside the top 20.
Kim shot a nine-under 61 on Thursday at Hurstbourne Country Club to take the first-round lead in the additional Event, held opposite the Genesis Scottish Open which is also sanctioned by both the PGA and DP World Tours.
Kim holed out from 123 yards for eagle on the par-4 fourth hole and had seven birdies. He had a four-stroke lead over Callum Shinkwin of England, Thomas Rosenmueller of Germany and American Peter Malnati.
“The hole-out on 4 definitely kick-started the morning,” Kim said. “I’m really proud of how I played today.”
An eight-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, the 35-year-old Kim is chasing his first PGA TOUR title. Born in South Korea, he grew up in Hawaii and played at Arizona State.
“I’ve missed the last six out of seven cuts, so that’s a good feeling to kind of not have to really worry about it.” Kim said. “But, obviously I would love to still play pretty aggressive and see if I can shoot another couple low ones.”
Shinkwin also eagled a par 4, holing out from 107 yards on the 12th. “I didn’t make any mistakes, which is obviously key,” Shinkwin said. “It’s very easy to lose concentration in the heat.”
The tournament winner will receive a two-year exemption and a trip to the PGA Championship next year, but is not in the Masters from winning. No one in the field is in The Open Championship next week.
Power gets his second round underway at 12.18pm Irish time with Purcell looking to build on a good first round and move into contention, and he gets underway at 6.16pm Irish time
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