Lowry continues stellar iron play but lukewarm putter leaves him eight back at Cognizant
Shane Lowry
Shane Lowry produced another exhibition of clinical iron-play but a lukewarm putter left him eight shots behind Austin Smotherman in the Cognizant Classic at the Palm Beaches in Florida.
The Offaly man made three bogeys and two birdies on his opening nine at PGA National, but while he came home in two-under to open with a one-under 70, he was left trailing an inspired Smotherman, who made 132 feet of putts in a bogey-free, nine-birdie 62 to lead by a shot from Colombia’s Nico Echavarria.
Lowry hit 14 greens in regulation and topped the statistics for strokes gained on approach as the afternoon wave hit the course.
But he made just two putts outside six feet and will be looking for an improvement on the Bermuda greens in round two.
Seamus Power came home in two-over last night and shot a level par 71 that left him tied for 52nd, nine strokes behind Smotherman (31), who shot a brilliant 63 to lead by a shot from Colombia’s Nico Echavarria, as Lowry’s 70 was good enough for a share of 35th.
On the DP World Tour, South Africa’s Dean Burmester fed off record crowds to open with a five-under-par 65 at Stellenbosch Golf Club and grab a share of the lead at the Investec South African Open Championship.
“What a vibe,” Burmester said after making seven birdies in front of huge crowds to share top spot with Spain’s Alejandro del Rey, England’s Joe Dean and Finland’s Oliver Lindell. “What a venue. Everybody has done an amazing job here.”
The leaders were a shot clear of South Africa’s Herman Loubser, American Johannes Veerman, England’s Nathan Kimsey and Italy’s Francesco Laporta.
Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed opened with a 71 to find himself a shot outside the projected cut on one over, while Lindell, Burmester and Del Rey were on track to win spots in The Open at Royal Birkdale.
There was also alarming news that Italy’s Andrea Pavan was forced to withdraw after suffering a serious injury when he fell down an elevator shaft at his private accommodation in South Africa.
He was reportedly “stable” in hospital, though the DP World Tour could only confirm, “due to medical confidentiality,” that he “withdrew due to injury”.
