IVINS, Utah (AP) — Adam Svensson sunk a 35-foot eagle putt he initially thought had missed and capped off his round with a birdie from a bunker, posting a career-best 11-under 60. His impressive performance gave him a two-shot lead on Thursday at the Black Desert Championship, marking the PGA TOUR’s return to Utah after 61 years.
The Black Desert Resort made a stunning debut with its Tom Weiskopf-designed course, which cuts through ancient black lava fields and is surrounded by red rock mountains, just 30 miles from Zion National Park.
With perfect weather conditions, Svensson and others found success on the course. Henrik Norlander hit all 14 fairways and 18 greens, shooting a career-low 62, joined by Korn Ferry Tour graduate Matt McCarty, who recorded an eagle on the par-4 fifth.
Svensson started hot, making seven birdies through 10 holes and finishing strong. On the par-5 seventh, he holed a 35-foot eagle to take the lead, though he admitted he thought it was going left before it unexpectedly veered right into the hole. “You’ve got to get a little bit lucky here and there,” Svensson said, “but overall I played very well.”
He saved par on the par-3 eighth with an 8-footer and finished the round by getting up-and-down from a bunker on the par-5 ninth with a 4-foot birdie putt.
“It’s just one of those rounds where everything comes together,” Svensson reflected on his round.
This marks the second consecutive week during the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Fall portion that a player has shot 60. Svensson had a chance for a 59 but found a bunker on his final hole. Unaware that a sub-60 round was possible, he revealed, “I didn’t even think about it, really.”
Due to darkness, the opening round couldn’t be completed, leaving some players, including Utah native and 65-year-old Jay Don Blake, still on the course. Blake, who grew up near the resort when it was just a lava field, was 3-over through 15 holes in his 500th career PGA TOUR event.
Norlander, tied for second, was pleased with his performance, hitting all 14 fairways and greens. “It’s a fun course, a lot of opportunities, but you’ve got to hit good shots because the greens are somewhat severe,” he said.
Other notable rounds included McCarty, who posted 62, and Kevin Streelman, who shot 64. Ben Kohles, part of a group at 65, had a hole-in-one on the 17th hole.
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