Boston golfer Jim Renner took advantage of rain-softened conditions at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn., to fire a 7-under 63 on Friday and take the first-round lead at the Travelers Championship.
Renner, well-known in Massachusetts golf circles, was briefly on the 59 watch at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Ct., when he posted an outgoing 29. With a bogey on the par-3 fifth hole (the 14th of his round) the only blemish on his opening-round scorecard, the 27-year old Bostonian birdied the ninth to finish the start to the event.
With eight birdies and a one-stroke lead over a handful of players, Renner was, no doubt, sorry to see his stellar round end.
“I had one of those days when I was playing real solid,” Renner told reporters following his opening round. “I just played real well and putted real nice, so all in all a real solid day.”
The good news for Renner was that he would find out soon if he could keep up his strong play. The golfer who won his 2011 PGA Tour card with a T22 at qualifying school, earned a quick break and fast turn-around with a 2:45 p.m. second-round tee time.
Day-long rain on Thursday made the course unplayable, forcing officials to suspend play at 11:30 a.m. A break in the dreary New England weather allowed the match to restart at 7 a.m. on Friday.
Renner, a virtual unknown outside his home state, has racked up wins throughout New England, including three 2008 state-wide titles at the Massachusetts, Vermont, and Rhode Island Opens. He added the Maine Open trophy to his mantle in 2009.
The professional ranks have not been as kind to Renner, whose best tour finish has been a T56. The early leader in Connecticut was eager to try to better that record.
“If you have a good rhythm going, you hope to ride it a little bit,” he said. “This year I’ve felt like I’ve played a lot better than what I’ve maybe had for results. I reassessed things after the last few weeks [and] feel like I’m on the right track right now.”
Renner hoped to join Keegan Bradley as a first-time tour winner. Bradley, who won last month’s Byron Nelson Championship, was also in the field but did not have the early-round success of his fellow New Englander. Three holes into his second round, Bradley was 2-over for the tourney.
Renner will have to continue his near-flawless golf, with defending champ Bubba Watson just one shot back four holes into his second round and just one shot back of Renner. Brandt Jobe started his second round solidly as well with two birdies in three holes to climb into a tie with Renner at the top of the leaderboard.
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