PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Evan Wartgow shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship.
The 26-year-old Evan Wartgow is an assistant professional at Koshkonong Mounds Country Club in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. He made an 8-foot eagle putt the par-16th and had four birdies and two bogeys in windy conditions on The Wanamaker Course at PGA Golf Club.
"I controlled the ball good and putted very well," Wartgow said. "I figured out the speed pretty quickly and I'm really happy with how I played. I never thought I'd be in the lead after 18 holes. ...
"We're not used to the sustained 18-19 mph wind the whole way around as you're playing. Driving the ball is pretty tough. I'm a guy who fades it so the whole back nine I was fighting a cut wind. But I hit it good and kept it out of the wind as best as possible."
Dakun Chang of Ashville, North Carolina; Paul Apolenis of Frederick, Maryland; Patrick Grady of Denver; Jack Lempke of Frisco, Texas; and Chris Zumpano of Tampa, Florida, shot 70. Defending Champion Andy Mickelson of Lockport, Illinois, had a 74.
The winner will earn a spot in the PGA Professional Championship in Oregon in June.
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