Hayden Springer and Justin Lower shared the lead at the Bermuda Championship when first-round play was suspended due to darkness in Southampton, Bermuda. Springer and Lower shot six-under-par 65s at Port Royal Golf Course to hold a one-shot edge over Patrick Rodgers and Joseph Bramlett. Kevin Dougherty also is at five under but had one more hole to complete in the first round when play was suspended.
Dougherty had just eagled the par-5 17th hole - recording his second eagle of the day - to move to five under. In all, 21 players had yet to finish their rounds. The first round will conclude Friday morning and the second round will begin at the same time.
Springer became the 14th player to shoot a sub-60 round on the PGA Tour back in July with his 59 in the first round of the John Deere Classic. But he failed to capitalize with a win that week and finds himself playing the FedEx Cup Fall series to secure his PGA Tour card for next season. The top 125 players in the points standings at the end of the fall are guaranteed full status for 2025.
Springer entered the week sitting exactly at No.125. Lower, like Springer, has yet to win on Tour in his career.
He began the week 74th in the points race. The top 50 from last summer's playoffs are automatically qualified. A large tie at four-under 67 includes Tour veterans Kevin Kisner and Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela.
Aaron Baddeley, the sole Australian in the field, opened with a two-over 73 to sit in a tie for 80th. He started the tournament in 163rd position..
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Hayden Springer, Justin Lower tied for lead in Bermuda
The race to secure spots for next season's PGA Tour continues with Hayden Springer and Justin Lower leading the Bermuda Championship.