Japan's Hidemichi Tanaka fired six-under-par 64 to take a share of the lead after the opening round of the 4 million-dollar Greater Hartford Open. In his first year on the PGA Tour after a successful run in his native Japan, Tanaka has missed the cut in seven of 16 events.
But he found the TPC at River Highlands to his liking, recording seven birdies and a bogey en route to his best round of the year. Tanaka is tied with American Brent Quigley also has struggled this year, finishing no better than 49th in his last three tournaments and failing to make the cut in eight of 17 events. Like Tanaka, Quigley also started strongly with birdies on four of his first six holes. He finished with seven against a single bogey.
Japan's Kaname Yokoo, Tim Herron and Skip Kendall are among six players who shot 65s and are one stroke back. There are 12 players within two shots of the lead, including Australians Stephen Allan, Mathew Goggin, Peter Lonard and Canadian Glen Hnatiuk.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
