Golfers go low on first day of LECOM Suncoast Classic

After round one of the 2024 LECOM Suncoast Classic, Mason Andersen stands above the rest of the field. 

Andersen shot 62 (nine under par) on Thursday to take sole possession of first place at the Korn Ferry Tour event, which runs through Sunday at Lakewood National Golf Club. Andersen, 25, is looking for his second win of the KFT season after shooting 17 under par to get the victory at the 117 Visa Argentina Open in March. 

Andersen bogeyed the No. 1 hole to begin his round, then made par on the No. 2 and No. 3 holes, before sinking birdies on 10 of the next 11 holes. He would go on to bogey No. 16 before ending his round with another birdie on No. 18. After the round, Andersen thanked his putter for the low score. 

"I'm not the longest (driver), not particularly the straightest," Andersen said. "But I think if you can get the ball around in the right spots, not short-siding yourself, and have a decent short game, you can still manage your way around things even when it goes bad for you."

Anderson is in the lead, but several golfers are right behind him. Patrick Cover and Cole Hammer are tied for second at eight under par. Jackson Suber, Ross Steelman, Kevin Velo, Chris Baker, Ryan Gerard and Emilio Gonzalez are tied for third at seven under par. 

Miles Russell, a 15-year-old junior golfer who received an exemption to play in the tournament because of his stellar results, is tied for 45th at three under par.