Adam Hadwin of Canada shot a 6-under-par 65 and held sole possession of the lead when first-round play was suspended at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship on Thursday in Southampton, Bermuda.
Hadwin was one stroke ahead of Japan’s Takumi Kanaya (66) and Braden Thornberry, who was 5 under through 16 holes when darkness fell at Port Royal Golf Course.
Another shot back were Alex Smalley, Isaiah Salinda and Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune at 67, as well as Frankie Capan III (4 under through 16).
Fifteen golfers will have to conclude their first rounds Friday morning.
Hadwin, 38, is trying to maintain his full status on the PGA Tour for the 12th consecutive season. Entering this week, he stood at a dismal No. 147 in the FedEx Cup Fall standings, with only the top 100 at the end of the fall guaranteed to keep their cards.
A high finish in Bermuda would propel Hadwin easily inside the top 100. Of course, an outright victory would grant him a two-year exemption on tour.
“Yeah, it hasn’t been a good year,” Hadwin said. “I’m on the outside looking in. I’m looking at all the Canadians playing well and making Signature Events and all that. So I do feel a little bit of freedom in that I’ve really got nothing to lose this week. I’ve got to basically win or top 2 this week or next. But also, I’ve still got to hit golf shots, I’ve still got to get the ball in the hole.”
Hadwin had seven birdies against just one bogey on Thursday. He did so despite hitting only six of the 14 fairways in regulation.
“I was pretty free for about 13 or 14 holes today and then I felt some nerves that I hadn’t felt most of the year, from being in a position that I have not been this year,” Hadwin said. “It’s nice to feel that again. It’s nice to make some really good swings while feeling that.”
Kanaya, whose only professional wins so far have come in his native Asia, made an eagle putt at the par-5 17th to boost his score. Kanaya entered the tournament No. 120 in the points race.
Another eagle at that hole came from Norway’s Kris Ventura, who is tied for eighth at 3-under 68. Following consecutive bogeys at the previous two holes, Ventura holed out for eagle from the rough.
“Ended up going for the bump-and-run and caught the lip, went in,” Ventura said. “Obviously a bonus. I would have been happy to walk off of there with a birdie. Yeah, just kind of got rewarded for staying patient and grinding today, because it was definitely difficult.”
Ventura is also near that top-100 bubble. He entered the week at No. 117 and his current position would only get him up to a projected 104th place.
–Field Level Media
