Apr 26, 2019; Avondale, LA, USA; Henrik Stenson tees off from the 16th hole during the second round of the Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
(Reuters) – Rory Sabbatini and Brian Gay returned to soggy TPC Louisiana on Friday to put the finishing touches to a sparkling opening round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans that left them with a one-shot lead going into the second round of the team event.
The veteran duo had completed 14 holes and were riding a streak of five consecutive birdies in the fourball matches when play was suspended on Thursday for darkness after rain and thunderstorms caused a nearly eight-hour delay.
Slovak Sabbatini, who was born in South Africa, and American Gay capped their round with two consecutive birdies for a 12-under-par 60 that tied the lowest tournament score since the Zurich Classic began using the team format in 2017.
Americans Scott Stallings and Trey Mullinax, who completed their round on Thursday, birdied seven of their final nine holes and were one shot off the pace along with Americans Cody Gribble and Joey Garber.
Twice major winner Bubba Watson and J.B. Holmes were four shots off the pace after an eight-under-par 64 while former Masters champion Sergio Garcia and Englishman Tommy Fleetwood were among a large group a further shot back.
The format for the second round, which is already underway, is foursomes (or alternate shot) where members of a team take alternate shots until a hole is completed.
Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto, editing by Ed Osmond
