Corey Conners leads Texas Open after delayed first round

SAN ANTONIO — Corey ConnersHe birdied four of his last five holes Friday, giving him an 8-under 64 to take the lead in the Valero Texas Open after the weather delayed first round.

Conners was the 2019 winner with a two-shot lead over Patrick RodgersThe second round will start on Friday.

Rodgers’ 6-under66, Chris KirkTo sit three back, he birdied his last three holes for 5-under67 Hayden BuckleyAnd Peter Malnati.

Fog caused Thursday’s first round to be delayed for more than three hours. Before play was called for darkness, veteran Padraig HarringtonAnd Matt KucharEach shot was a 4-under 68 to win the clubhouse lead MJ DaffueRoberto Diaz. Taylor MontgomeryAnd Michael KimFriday’s rounds were completed, and Conners was four behind them in that group at number 68.

Conners had putts of less than five feet on three of his late birdies. His hole No. 15 birdie was however a surprise. 15 came just 20 feet from his approach from 140yds away, which was just short of a pin.

Conners has not won since the Texas Open trophy four-years ago. His best rounds were those 66s he shot every day of the weekend. He has not finished among the top 10 this year; his 12th place finish at the Sony Open Hawaii was the best in ten events.

Rodgers, looking for his first PGA Tour win, completed his first round Friday by reaching the par-5 eighth hole (his seventeenth) in just two. From 265 yards, he rolled onto a green and putted a four-footer for eagle. He pushed it past the green and hit in for birdie. On his final hole, he added another by sinking a four-footer.

He finished third at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship in November and won once in the PGA’s Korn Ferry Tour of Colombia in 2015.