LA QUINTA, California (AFP) — Rico Hoey, who chose to don the Philippine colors right after making it to the PGA Tour, shot a 63 on Thursday at the start of The American Express tournament, just one shot off the leaders.
The 27-year-old Hoey, who helped the country win the 2013 Putra Cup, momentarily held the lead until Zach Johnson and Alex Noren arrived home with identical 62s at La Quinta course.
Still, it was a big thrill for Hoey, who is now in the discussion for possible Olympic inclusion, as he fired nine birdies in a flawless round for a share of third place with Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
Hoey, who had a closing round 68 during the Putra Cup held at Sherwoods in Cavite, is 2012 Callaway junior world champion. He attended University of Southern California.
He made the PGA Tour after finishing fourth in the Korn Ferry Order of Merit last season.
Johnson, eager to focus on his game after the demands of Ryder Cup captaincy, fired a 10-under par 62 to share the lead with Sweden’s Noren.
Two-time major winner Johnson had 10 birdies on the La Quinta course, one of three in use over the first three days of the tournament in the California desert east of Los Angeles.
After stringing together six straight birdies from the fourth through the ninth, Johnson rolled in an eight-foot putt for his final birdie of the day at the 17th to take the solo lead.
Noren joined him after a more up-and-down day at La Quinta, where he was seven-under after his first seven holes thanks to five birdies and an eagle, then hit out of bounds to take a double bogey at his eighth hole, the par-four 17th.
Five birdies coming in, including two to cap his round at the eighth and ninth, pushed him to a share of the lead in pursuit of a first US tour title to go with his 10 European Tour victories.
South Africa’s Bezuidenhout had nine birdies in his nine-under 63 at La Quinta, while Hoey, who was born in the Philippines but grew up in southern California, had nine birdies in his 63 at PGA West.
Another nine players were tied on 64, a group that included world number five Xander Schauffele and sixth-ranked Patrick Cantlay. Of that group, Scott Stallings and Hayden Springer notched their eight-under efforts on the tougher Stadium Course, which will host the final round on Sunday.
