Blixt leads suspended Boise Open

Boise, ID – Jonas Blixt shot a nine-under 62 on Thursday to take the lead at the suspended Boise Open.

Inclement weather forced an afternoon delay, and, although play resumed at 9 p.m. (et) -- 7 p.m. locally -- darkness left a considerable amount of players on the course without finishing 18 holes.

Blixt was able to get in the clubhouse before then, though, and his two eagles and five birdies were good enough for a two-shot lead at the moment.

"I made everything I should make today," Blixt said. "It wasn't great, but I took advantage of the opportunities I had."

Play will resume at Hillcrest Country Club at 8 a.m. local time, and second- round tee times will be delayed 30 minutes.

Troy Merritt is in second place at seven-under, although he has two holes still to finish. Kevin Stadler, Chris Tidland, Jason Schultz and Steve Wheatcroft share third at six-under 65.

Brian Smock and Greg Owen finished their rounds at minus-five, while four players at the same score have yet to complete first-round play.

Blixt began on the back nine and got off to a quick start with a birdie on the 10th hole. Two holes later, he posted his second birdie of the round at No. 12.

He went for the green at the 293-yard, par-four 15th and made it, following with an eight-foot eagle putt to move to four-under.

"Some days are better than others, just like any other person. Today was better than most," said Blixt. "It wasn't one of those days where I was forcing it. It was more of just trying to get it on the green because I was putting so well."

Blixt closed out his opening nine in style with a birdie at the 18th to head to the front nine at five-under. It was only more of the same flawless golf in the last nine holes.

He went birdie-eagle from the second to continue his ascent up the leaderboard, then hit a rough patch by the day's standards with five straight pars. Blixt finished the round well with a birdie at the ninth to get into the clubhouse with a 62.

Both two-time winners on tour this year have a ways to go if they are to get their third. J.J. Killeen is seven shots off the pace at two-under 69, while Mathew Goggin is one-over through 15 holes. A third win would earn an automatic promotion to the PGA Tour.

NOTES: This is the first time in the tournament's 22-year history that play was suspended during a round...Camilo Benedetti had a double-eagle at the par- five third hole. It's the third on tour this year and the second in consecutive rounds after Rahil Gangjee's hole-in-one on the par-four 15th at the Mylan Classic last Sunday...Woody Austin recorded five straight birdies.