Three-way tie for lead at Knoxville Open
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Arjun Atwal, Jarrod Lyle and Chris Kirk are tied for the lead with 6-under 66s after the opening round of the Knoxville Open presented by Food City at Fox Den Country Club.D.J. Brigman, from New Mexico, Indiana’s Chris Smith, Texan Kelly Grunewald, Argentinian Sebastian Fernandez and Californian Jeff Brehaut are tied for fourth with 5-under 67s, a shot further back.
Lyle, who tied for 48th at last week’s U.S. Open, said “I guess we’re back to the normal kind of golf after the circus last week.”
Lyle has four top-ten finishes this year, including a victory at the Mexico Open. “Last week showed me I have got the game to play majors, not contend just yet, but make cuts and get my name up there a little bit more. I’m still really tired after last week,” said Lyle. “It’s amazing how much it takes out of you. I had never played a U.S. Open before but your mind has to be so sharp. If you miss a two-footer you may have a ten-footer coming back.”
Atwal enjoyed two weeks off before arriving in Knoxville. “I sat on my couch, played with my kids and spent time with my family,” he said. Atwal, the first Indian to win on the European Tour, started on the back nine and closed his round with three consecutive birdies.
Kirk, a 23-year-old Nationwide Tour rookie who was born in Knoxville, TN, came to the last hole needing a birdie for the outright lead.
“Eighteen was the only green I missed,” said Kirk. “I guess I misjudged the yardage somehow. It’s a new lob-wedge and it went ten yards further than I thought.” Kirk got up-and-down to remain co-leader.
Three-under at the turn, Kirk hit a three-iron around some trees on the par-five 10th hole to 15-feet and drained the putt for eagle. “Probably the best shot of the day,” said Kirk. “It’s not my natural shot. I usually hit a draw so that was big for me.”
Kirk added another birdie at the 210-yard 16th hole when he hit a four-iron to 10-feet. “I made that putt and everyone started cheering,” said Kirk. “Someone told me they had $1 beers for birdies there. On the 17th tee I saw some guy double-fisting taking advantage of it.”
Californian Chris Anderson, got off to a flying start opening with four straight birdies. Anderson got to 7-under through 13 holes but made a triple-bogey at the par-four 15th hole when he dumped a wedge in the water then three-putted. Anderson is tied for ninth at 4-under-par with eight players.
News & notes: Larry Mize withdrew from the Knoxville Open when he gained a start in this weeks PGA TOUR event, the Travelers Championship. Mize scored a 3-under 67…Caleb Marsh, a 19-year-old freshman on the Western Carolina University golf team who Monday qualified, shot 1-under-par 71… Knoxville is one of four cities to have hosted a Nationwide Tour event every year since the Tour began in 1990. Knoxville is joined by Springfield, MO, Wichita, KS and Boise, ID…Ewan Porter, winner of the Moonah Classic earlier this year, shot 5-over (41) on the front nine but came home with a six-birdie back nine (31) for an even-par 72…Australian Kim Felton (2005) is the only international winner of the Knoxville Open.
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