Reifers Off To a Blazzing Start

Kyle Reifers, a 2006 graduate, was 10-under in an eight-hole stretch on Thursday on his was to a blistering opening round 11-under 61 at the Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic in Clarksburg, Ontario, Canada.

Reifers opened his round with three-straight pars before getting his first of eight birdies on the day at No. 4. That started his string of hot streak as he made another birdie at No. 5, an eagle at the par-5 sixth and three-straight birdies to close the front nine in 7-under 29.

He started the back nine with another eagle at the par-5 tenth and a birdie at No. 11 to go to 10-under par. Remarkably, Reifers made a bogey at the par-3 12^th followed by three more pars at holes 13, 14 and 15. But the Columbus, Ohio, native finished strong with birdies at Nos. 16 and 17 and a solid par at No. 18.

The 61 is ties Reifers’ lowest round of his professional career. He also fired a 61 in the final round of the Chattanooga Classic, his first professional tournament, to come from behind and win his first tournament.

Ron Whittaker also opened with a bogey-free round of 5-under 67 and found himself tied for seventh after the first round.