Ryan Brehm Makes Hole-in-One at Valspar Championship, Jordan Spieth Shoots 67
The Valspar Championship got off to a memorable start on Thursday as Ryan Brehm made a hole-in-one on the par-3 17th hole at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Florida. Brehm’s 196-yard shot with a 6-iron led to a 5-under 66 and a three-way share of the lead with Adam Schenk and Germany’s Stephan Jaeger.[0]
The ace was Brehm’s first on the PGA TOUR, and he said he was glad his wife was there to witness it.[1] “We talk about all the time,” he joked.[1] She said, “She’s like, ‘I’ve never seen you have one.’”[2]
Returning to Innisbrook after a five-year absence, Jordan Spieth had a flawless round, with two birdie putts of 60 and 30 feet respectively. His impressive putting led to a score of 67.[0] Lucas Glover and Maverick McNealy, both former U.S. Open champions, were at 67.[0]
Spieth made more than 147 feet of putts on his day and said feeling comfortable with the speed control and putter allowed him to play to the center of greens and not attack pins.[3]
“I wasn’t expecting to play this tournament at all,” he said, recalling his first start at Innisbrook back in 2013 when he earned his special temporary membership on the PGA Tour with a top-10 finish.
Matt Fitzpatrick was the only player in the field to shoot over par, carding an even-par 71. It was a beautiful day at Innisbrook, but that didn’t seem to help Fitzpatrick’s scorecard.
0. “Sports Digest: Hole-in-one lifts Brehm into share of lead at Valspar Championship” Press Herald, 17 Mar. 2023, https://www.pressherald.com/2023/03/16/sports-digest-hole-in-one-lifts-brehm-into-share-of-lead-at-valspar-championship/
1. “For the Brehms, new Copperhead memories filled to the brim” PGA TOUR, 17 Mar. 2023, https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/latest/2023/03/16/for-the-brehms-new-copperhead-memories-filled-to-the-brim-ryan-brehm-valspar-innisbrook-copperhead
2. “Ryan Brehm cards hole-in-one, takes share of lead at Valspar” KPVI News 6, 17 Mar. 2023, https://www.kpvi.com/sports/ryan-brehm-cards-hole-in-one-takes-share-of-lead-at-valspar/article_6a172f4a-f7da-59c7-be09-4a84f7969fbe.html
3. “2023 Valspar Championship leaderboard: Jordan Spieth one back of lead after wild putting day” CBS Sports, 16 Mar. 2023, https://www.cbssports.com/golf/news/2023-valspar-championship-leaderboard-jordan-spieth-one-back-of-lead-after-wild-putting-day/
