Welch Tied 2nd After Round 1 of Southern Highlands Collegiate
Rhode Island’s Patrick Welch posted a first round 66 and is tied for second place after the first round of the Southern Highlands Collegiate in Las Vegas on Sunday.
Welch is tied with Florida’s Fred Biondi, both of whom are just one shot back of leader Christo Lamprecht in Georgia Tech.
“It’s so much fun to see him back in the lineup. He is hitting the ball so great and he is making putts. This last hole he has a five-footer, kinda right down the hill, right to left and he just buries it. Deep down in my heart and my soul it just feels really good, and I know he feels phenomenal about where he is at with his game right now,” said Oklahoma head coach Ryan Hybl after the round.
This is the second straight tournament this spring season in which Welch has gotten off to a great start.
Meanwhile, Welch’s Oklahoma Sooners are in first place with a team score of 20-under par.
Welch’s First Round
After saving par on the first hole, the former Classical star birdied the second hole and then eagled the third hole to get to three-under par quickly.
The rest of the front nine was a bit of a rollercoaster as Welch doubled the fifth hole, birdied the sixth hole and then made bogeys on the seventh and eighth holes.
He birdied the ninth hole to turn at one-under par.
However, on the back nine, Welch lit it up.
Welch birdied the 11th and 13th holes before saving par on 14 and 25.
On the final three holes, he launched himself right into contention, making birdies on all three to shoot 66.