RAIN SLOWS DOWN BMW CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 1

DSC07246 Nemacolin DSDSC07283 Rory Carnoustie DS NEMACOLIN WOODLANDS RESORT, in Farmington PA. 18 holes open for play and 18 more on the way. New Pete Dye Course Opens summer of 2017, for details see Nemacolin.com. The Carnoustie Fall Line of Shirts, Carnoustiesportswearonline.com.     ______________________________________________________________________

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ROUND 1 BMW CHAMPIONSHIP (By Rory Spears-reporting from Carmel, Indiana)

Rain caused a 3 Hour and 33 minute rain delay in the first round of the 2016 BMW Championship at the Crooked Stick Golf Club. As a result Rd. 1 will restart at 8 AM on Friday, and then round 2 will begin almost immediately following. Round 2 is expected to be completed on Friday. Round 1 play saw the horns sounded at 7:36 PM EST. and the players had the option to finish the hole they were playing.

*** The PGA Tour has announced that second round tee times will begin at 10 Am EST, with players going off both tee’s.

As a result the first 11 groups completed the first round, leaving 36 players on the course. The field that was supposed to be 70 players, ended up being 69 when Henrik Stenson decided to rest a sore knee and skip the championship.

Roberto Castro is the leader in the clubhouse with a 7 under par 65, but Castro was 8 under par before a bogey on the 18th dropped him back a stroke.

“The course was fast and firm before the rain delay,” said Castro. “After the delay the course was gettable. There have been a lot of delays on the tour this year, but I’m really glad to get the round in.”

Castro who lives only 15 minutes from Atlanta, said his goal this week is just to make sure he gets to the tour championship at East Lake in Atlanta.

2014 John Deere Classic Champion Brian Harman was in second place one shot back, after a bogey free round of 66 had 4 birdies and an eagle on the par 5, 15th hole. Harman the new father is in 57th place in the Fed Ex Cup Point standings, he knows he needs a strong finish to make the top 30 and qualify for Atlanta. Jason Dufner, Chris Kirk and 2014 BMW Champion Billy Horschel were tied for third place at 5 under par.

Defending Champion Jason Day finished T-51 with a score of 73 +1. Rory McIlroy who won the BMW in 2012 the last time it was played at Crooked Stick was at 3 under par through 10 holes.

Winfields Kevin Streelman had the roller coaster round of the day. He played the front nine in 3 over par, after double bogeys on the third and fourth holes set him back, but he played the back nine in 3 under par to finish at even par 72. Streelman needed two birdies and an eagle on the par 5, 15th hole to get back to even par.

Adam Scott carded a 31, 5 under par on the front nine, but bogeyed his only hole on the back nine before calling it quits for the day, he is at 4 under par and tied for 6th place. Harris English was 4 under par through 11 holes, before back-to-back double bogeys dropped him back to even par. English then made a birdie on 17 to finish the round at 71, one under par.

Northwestern Alum Luke Donald only completed 10 holes before play was halted, Donald had 1 bogey and 3 birdies on his round that included back-to-back birdies on holes 8 and 9.

2011 BMW Champion Justin Rose, and this years Gold Medal winner in Rio during the Olympic Games, is struggling and is 3 over par through 16 holes and is T-66.

The Gog Blog returns tomorrow with Round 2 coverage of the BMW Championship.

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About Rory Spears

Rory spent over 8 years growing up working at Rob Roy Golf Club in Prospect Hts.IL, then two years at Chevy Chase in Wheeling. He has covered golf in Chicago since 1986. Rory was one of the initial members of WSCR all-sports radio Chicago and covered golf there for 5 seasons, before moving on to work for ESPN/Sportsticker and ESPN Radio. In addition to hosting Golfers on Golf Radio on WCPT AM820 Chicago, he writes for both the Chicago District (CDGA) Magazine, and formerly Chicagoland Golf. Rory has played over 525 courses in 39 states, and rates golf courses. He does golf course management and communications consulting, within the golf industry.