Atwal starts with 72, loses course record

AVONDALE, Apr 20: Arjun Atwal had a modest start at the Zurich Classic golf tournament of New Orleans when he shot an even par 72 at the tough 7,341-yard TPC Louisiana.
Atwal, returning to PGA Tour after more than a month, had three each of birdies and bogeys as he started on the tenth and ended the day with a bogey on closing par-3 ninth, where he went into water and had to take a penalty.He was tied 77th and was way off the leader, Kyle Reifers, a rookie, who shot a record eight-under 64 to take a two-shot lead.
Atwal was one of the two who held the course record of 65 set in 2005 when the Indian finished tied fifth after having the lead at one stage. He shared the course record with Chris DiMarco.
Daniel Chopra went through a string of nine pars in a row on back nine as he compiled a two-under 870 with three birdies and one bogey on front nine. He was tied 32nd.
Unknown Reifers playing only his eighth event on PGA Tour was two clear of seasoned 1989 British Open champion Mark Calcavecchia, who shot a 66 and then acknowledged that even he did not know much about the man he was chasing.
Tim Petrovic, who won the only other time a PGA Tour event was held at this course in 2005 finished his round in 67 for a four-way tie for third with Lucas Glover, Jason Schultz and Tom Johnson.
This event in New Orleans has often produced new winners and if Reifers wins, he will be the fifth tour pro to grab his first win in New Orleans in the last six years.
Also at even par was last year's winner, Chris Couch who won when the event went to English Turn as the TPC Louisiana was hit badly by Hurricane Katrina which blew down 2,000 trees and flooded several fairways forcing the course to shut down for 10 months.