Zack Byrd of Murrells Inlet shot an even-par 72 Wednesday in the opening round of the six-round PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament Finals at PGA West in LaQuinta, Calif., and is tied for 107th in the 172-player field.
Byrd played the TPC Stadium Course, which played to a 71.59 scoring average compared to the Nicklaus Tournament Course’s 69.75 scoring average. He plays the Nicklaus Course in Thursday’s second round.
A total of 125 players posted at least even-par scores, led by 8-under 64s by Will Claxton and Daniel Summerhays.
Byrd, one of 55 players making their first appearance at Q-School Finals, started on the 10th hole and was 3-over par by his seventh hole, but he rallied with three birdies on the back nine to get back to even par.
He double bogeyed the par-3 13th and bogeyed the par-5 16th to play the back nine 3 over, then birdied the par-4 first, par-4 third and par-5 eighth holes.
The top 25 players and ties at the conclusion of Monday’s final round earn 2012 PGA Tour playing cards, the next 50 players and ties earn full Nationwide Tour status in 2012, and the remaining players earn conditional Nationwide status.
