Three Tied at the Top After Round One of the 51st Higginbotham Texas State Open
Tyler, Texas - Three players sit atop the 51st Higginbotham Texas State Open leaderboard after round one. Dillon Board, Paul Gonzalez (a), and 2012 Champion Nathan Tyler all shot 8-under-par 62.
Nathan Tyler of Mesquite, Texas, had a round that featured an incredible three eagles. “On number twelve I put it in the hole, 7-iron. So that was pretty nice to get the third one,” said Tyler. He fired an 8-under-par 33-29-62 catching fire on the back nine, playing holes 10 through 16 at 6-under-par.
In 2012 Tyler won the Texas State Open at the Lakes at Castle Hills on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
Paul Gonzalez (a) of Waxahachie, Texas, made his return to Northern Texas PGA competition today and leads both the Professional and Amatuer Divisions. Gonzalez grew up playing NTPGA Junior Tour events and now attends the University of Texas at Arlington. “I told my coaches after my last tournament that I want to go out and try to win this thing,” said Gonzalez. “I drove it well and just hit it to the fat parts of the greens. That was the game plan today.”
Gonzalez signed for a bogey-free, 8-under-par 31-31-62 card that included eight birdies. Gonzalez is trying to become the first amateur since Homero Blancas to capture the title. Blancas accomplished the feat in 1960, the first year that the Texas State Open was played.
Dillon Board of Jacksonville, Florida is the final player tied for the lead at 8-under-par. “I got off to a good start and birdied two of the first three holes. I drove it really well and knocked a couple putts in. Bogey-free is always a good thing,” said Board. Board also added a bogey-free 31-31-62 card including an eagle on par-5 14th. Board was one of seven players who qualified at The Cascades on June 30. He fired a 4-under par round of 67, finishing tied for second in the qualifier.
Jack Ireland of The Woodlands, Texas and Tyson Reeder of Edmond, Oklahoma are only one shot back of the leaders in a tie for fourth at 7-under-par 63.
Davis Seybert (a) of Midland,Texas, the youngest player in the field and a Northern Texas PGA Junior Tour member finished round one at 1-under-par 33-36-69. Seybert earned an exemption through the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour’s All American Tour.
The 51st Higginbotham Texas State Open is a 72-hole stroke play event consisting of 123 professionals and 33 amateurs competing for a $200,000 projected purse. The field will play 36-holes before being cut to the low 55 scores and ties. 72 players are at 1-under par or better following round one. All four rounds will be contested at The Cascades Club from Tuesday, July 27 through Friday, July 30.
The Cascades Club: 6,882 yard, par 70
View full results HERE
