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

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.