SANDY, Utah — Andres Gonzales shot a 9-under 62 in the first round of the Web.com Tour’s Utah Championship on Thursday.
Gonzales has a three-shot lead over Utah’s Tony Finau, Skip Kendall, Steve Wheatcroft and Paul Peterson.
Gonzales opened his round with an eagle at the par-5 first hole, making a 7-foot putt. He had two more birdies on the front nine. His five back-nine birdies included a tap-in at the par-3 15th hole, the result of a tee shot he thought had a chance of going in.
"(The ball) had a good line on it. It landed short but somehow ended up behind (the hole)," Gonzales said. "My wife was there. I asked her if it hit the hole, but she said it didn’t."
Finau is a local favourite who is playing in his fourth Utah Championship after making his debut as a 16-year-old in 2006.
"I hit some good drives. That was the biggest thing," he said.