Azalea Invitational: P.J. Maybank off to early lead at Country Club of Charleston

The 75th Azalea Invitational kicked off this morning at The Country Club of Charleston. The event has crowned some impressive champions over time.

Webb Simpson has won here twice. Scroll back through history, and other legendary names like D.J. Trahan, Casey Wittenberg, and Buddy Alexander also pop up.

It's a 72-hole event at the hallowed course, and after 54 holes, the field will be cut to the low 60 and ties.

P.J. Maybank (Twitter)

After the dust settled in the first round, PJ Maybank III, a high school senior from Michigan, sits atop the leaderboard. His 5-under 66 was highlighted by a stellar final 10 holes. He stood on the ninth tee even par, sputtering with two birdies wiped out by two bogeys. He made an eagle on the ninth and then ripped off birdies on hole Nos. 13, 15, and 17 to round out his day.

Maybank III has signed to play for Oklahoma next season.

Hot on his heels is Bryce Hanstad. The Minnesota native was a semi-finalist in the U.S. Mid-Am at Erin Hills this past September.

HOT STARTS

In the morning wave, Bruce Murphy set a very early tone, firing a five-under 31 on his opening nine holes. He birdied hole Nos. 3-5 and capped off the hot start with an eagle on the par-5 ninth. However, the back nine was not as kind to the Tennessee freshman. He made bogey on No. 10 and then doubled the 11th. Murphy signed for a one-under 70, a bit of a disappointment after that amazing front nine.

Defending champion Luke Clanton, playing for Florida State, is not in the field this week. But another young Luke -- with the surname of Poulter -- shot an even-par 71 today. A relative of Ian? You bet.

The 18-year-old son of Ian plays for the University of Florida -- he captured his first collegiate victory in December at the 2022 Willow Cup at Willow Point Golf and Country Club in Alabama.