Tony Finau Tied For Lead Following Houston Open Opening Round

Nov 10, 2022, 4:21 PM

Tony Finau of the United States prepares to putt on the eighth green during the first round of the Cadence Bank Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course on November 10, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

BY TOM HACKETT

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY – Tony Finau has shot a five-under-par opening round at the Houston Open to be in a three-way share of first place.

Finau’s round was mesmerizing as the world number 15 rattled off five closing birdies to secure a first-place opening-round finish. Finau made the turn, having started on the back-nine, at even par following an opening birdie at 13 that was followed with a bogey on 15.

Tony Finau’s Remarkable Finish

Finau’s back nine heroics began when he weighted a 30-foot birdie putt perfectly up and over the ridge of the green and into the bottom of the cup. On the par 5 3rd, he chipped from 38 yards away from the whole and left himself with a simple 4-foot birdie putt that also found the bottom of the cup.

Finau was quickly two under par and trending in the right direction. As Finau’s confidence grew, so did his game. On the par 4 5th, Finau found himself just 97 yards away from the pin, his approach was a dart and concluded with a three-foot birdie putt back up the hill that he would capitalize on. On the next hole, Finau played the slope of the green to perfection as his wedge hit the above the pin and trickled towards it leaving himself with 11 feet and 11 inches remaining. Unsurprisingly, Finau found the bottom of the cup.

Then on his 18th hole of the day, Finau went out in style when he birdied the par 3 9th.

Finau averaged 324.6 yards off the tee, 69.23% of fairways hit, and 77.78% of greens in regulation. Without a doubt, it was Finau’s most complete round of the 2022/23 PGA Tour season to date.

He finds himself tied atop the Houston Open leaderboard alongside Alex Norén and Aaron Wise.

On Friday, Finau will tee off the first tee at 5:25 a.m.

Zac Blaire’s Opening Round

Finau was not the only local in the field at the Houston Open. He was joined by Zac Blaire who managed to post a respectable two-over-par and currently sits in a share of 90th. Blaire will need to find birdies throughout Friday’s second round if he hopes to make the cut.