J.T. Poston carded an eagle and nine birdies en route to a 10-under-par 62 and a one-stroke lead after the opening round of The American Express on Thursday in La Quinta, Calif.
Poston started his round on the back nine at the Nicklaus Tournament Course and came in with 32 at the turn with four birdies. He recovered from his lone bogey of the day at the par-4 No. 1 and really heated up with three straight birdies at Nos. 2-4.
Birdies at No. 6 and 8 were sandwiched around his eagle at the par-5, 527-yard No. 7.
Poston, 31, has three career wins on the PGA Tour, including the 2024 Shriners Children’s Open in October. He started the week No. 35 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Justin Lower is a shot behind Poston after a 63 at La Quinta Country Club. A five-way tie for third place at 8-under 64 consists of Americans Joel Dahmen, Chris Kirk and J.J. Spaun as well as Australia’s Jason Day and Germany’s Matti Schmid.
Defending champion Nick Dunlap is tied for 28th following a 5-under 67 the La Quinta course. Michael Thorbjornsen took antibiotics for his tonsillitis and opened with a 65 at the same course.
Blades Brown, a 17-year-old making his professional debut, carded an even-par 72 at La Quinta. That left him tied for 116th entering Friday.
The tournament’s unique setup sees golfers play one round apiece at the Pete Dye Stadium Course and Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West as well as one at La Quinta Country Club, all of them par-72 layouts. The Pete Dye Stadium Course hosts the final round following a 54-hole cut to the top 65 and ties.
–Field Level Media
