Looks like Paul McBeth has picked up right where he left off when he broke the Winthrop Gold Course record with a 52 (-15) in the final round of the 2013 USDGC.
McBeth nearly equaled that score on Wednesday during the first round of the USDGC, shooting a stunning 53 (-14) that gave him the lead.
Others with a hot start included Patrick Brown (-10), 2009 US Champ Nikko Locastro and Nate Sexton at (-8), and six others at (-7). Last year, after three rounds of un-McBeast-like rounds, McBeth shifted from a cautious game plan to an assault on Winthrop’s pins for the final round.
“I took that strategy into this year. It only took me five years to learn that,” the 3-time World Champ said with a smile.
Brown, who made the trip all the way from San Francisco, said his Wednesday round was the first time he’s constructed a complete round in the three USDGC’s he’s attended.
Defending champ Steve Brinster had a good round going until Hole 17 when he scored a devastating 11. He ended up shooting even for the day and is currently tied for 37th.
Tied at 5th, 2008 US Champ Nate Doss described his (-7) as a solid start that gives him plenty of room for improvement. A favorite to go far, Richard Wysocki of nearby Ft. Mill, S.C., is in the same boat after carding a (-5).
Five-time US Champ Ken Climo sits tied for 25th after submitting a (-2). Climo said he comes to every tournament to win, but after a disappointing Wednesday he might scale back his goal to top ten. Still, anything can happen, he said.
“I could shoot three, fourteen-under’s and I would be good to go,” said Climo.
