Saguaro Amateur: Daniel Connolly shoots First Round 6-under 66

1/2/2017 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff

Daniel Connolly at the 2016 San Francisco City <br>(Steve Lewis photo)

The second place group at 4-under is comprised of Cody Hall, Derek Bayley and Ryan Wallen

MARICOPA, AZ (January 2, 2017) -- SMU freshman Daniel Connolly opened the Saguaro Amateur at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club with a 6-under 66 to take a two shot first round lead. A trio of players posted 4-under 68's to share second place and they will be in hot pursuit come Tuesday's second round. Connolly, who won the 2016 San Francisco City championship, birdied eight-times and bogeyed twice during his opening round. The round for Connolly consisted of four birdies and a bogey on each side. His best stretch of golf came from Nos. 12-17 when he birdied four-times. Connolly won the 2014 AmateurGolf.com Christmas Classic and is coming off of a runner-up finished two weeks ago at the AmateurGolf.com Tour Championship. The second place group is comprised of Cody Hall, Derek Bayley and Ryan Wallen. Hall reached 4-under with a bogey-free round of golf that boosted two birdies on both nines. Bayley, a junior at Washington State did most of his work late. After turning in 1-under Bayley birdied four of five holes from Nos. 12-16 to reach 5-under. Bayley did lose some steam with closing hole bogey. Wyoming sophomore Ryan Wallen is the final player in the second place group and he posted his 4-under with a five birdie, one bogey round. Whalen fell to 1-over briefly with a 3rd hole bogey but bounced back quickly with a birdie on the next hole and then three in a row to conclude the front nine. After turning at 4-under Whalen birded once more heading for home. Six players are 3-under and in fifth place following a day where 23 players broke par.

Results: Saguaro Amateur

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Tanner Hughes	Livermore, CA	500	69-70-68=207
T2	Zach Smith	Pleasanton, CA	400	70-70-68=208
T2	Daniel Connolly	San Francisco, CA	400	66-69-73=208
T4	Branson Davis	McKinney, TX	300	70-71-68=209
T4	Spencer Painton	Aurora, CO	300	70-67-72=209

View full results for Saguaro Amateur

About the Saguaro Amateur

54-hole event with field comprised of 108 men’s amateur golfers from all over the United States. Most players are college golfers on winter break. All players must have completed high school by January 1 and must have a handicap of 3.0 or lower. The ...

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