James Hahn and Ricky Barnes rode the windy conditions to 6-under-par 64s and are tied for the lead after the first round of the AT&T Byron Nelson at TPC Four Seasons at Las Colinas in Irving, Texas.
Hahn (pictured), from Alameda and Cal, carded three birdies on each nine in a bogey-free round, which he capped by sinking a 22-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole.
“It’s playing tough out there,” said Hahn, who has won each of the last two seasons on the PGA Tour. “You know, once you start counting up your strokes in the middle of the round, it’s kind of when things go haywire.
“I did a good job of staying in the present, just making sure that I put myself in a position where I at least made par and judged the wind. I had a great conversation with my caddy on almost every hole trying to leave ourselves the best opportunity for a birdie.”
Barnes, the 2002 U.S. Amateur champion who has never won on the PGA Tour, recorded five birdies in a span of seven holes through No. 10 and recorded a total of eight in his 64.
He also had bogeys on the second and 15th holes.
“I almost birdied half of them and I had two looks coming in so yeah, I’m very happy,” Barnes said. “I played solid, kept the hole in front of me even thought I didn’t hit many fairways.
“My distance control was very good today. I think that’s what leads to birdies out here. If you get in the right sections of these greens, you can get good looks.”
Matt Kuchar made a five-foot birdie putt on his last hole in a 66 and is tied for third with Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela, who had a five-foot eagle putt at No. 16, Cameron Tringale of Laguna Nigel, who sank a six-foot eagle putt at No. 7, and Jason Kokrak, who made four birdies in five holes through No. 7.
Top-ranked Dustin Johnson carded a 67 and is tied for seventh with John Huh of Los Angeles and Cal State Northridge, Sean O’Hair, Brooks Koepka, Bud Cauley, Peter Malnati and Ryan Armour.
Fourth-ranked Jason Day shot 68 and is in a tie for 14th that includes sixth-ranked Jordan Spieth, while defending champion Sergio Garcia, who won the Masters last month, struggled to a 73 and is tied for 93rd.
