David Lipsky took the lead after the first round of the Procore Championship by shooting a 7-under 65 at Silverado Country Club in Napa Valley. Lipsky, winless in 104 events since joining the PGA Tour in 2022, had a strong start with eight birdies and one bogey. Following three missed cuts, Lipsky sought guidance from his college coach at Northwestern and found relaxation playing with Northwestern players.
Patton Kizzire and Mark Hubbard were one stroke behind Lipsky. Kizzire made a late surge with three consecutive birdies but a bogey on No. 8 set him back. Hubbard, with nine birdies, slipped with a bogey and triple bogey on consecutive holes.
Kevin Dougherty also finished at 67, highlighted by two eagles and a hole-out from 41 yards on the 18th. Defending champion Sahith Theegala struggled to a 69, while Wyndham Clark, a past U.S. Open winner, carded a 70.
Max Homa, a two-time tournament champion, shot 71 overcoming an early bogey. Stewart Cink, the 2020 winner, also opened with a 71. International team players Min Woo Lee (68), Mackenzie Hughes (69), and Corey Conners (73) had mixed results.
Lipsky showcased steady iron play and solid putting, with one-putts on 11 holes. Despite some shaky tee shots, Lipsky managed to finish strong with five birdies on the back nine. Reflecting on his improved performance, Lipsky emphasized the importance of enjoying the game and maintaining perspective.
Laird and Homa faced challenges during their rounds, with Laird recovering from an early bogey and Homa struggling off the tee and missing crucial birdie opportunities towards the end.
Overall, the first round of the Procore Championship provided an exciting start to the FedEx Cup Fall series, with Lipsky leading the pack and several contenders in close pursuit.
