Wann, Robinson, Batchelor share New Year's Invite lead at -4

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Jan. 3, 2018) – Daniel Robinson had to pull of some last-minute heroics at St. Petersburg Country Club on Thursday, but he landed in a tie for first after one round of the New Year’s Invitational regardless. Robinson went 3 under in his final two holes to join Jordan Batchelor and William Wann in the lead at 4-under 68.

The eleventh-hour push was by far the most exciting part of a steady day by Robinson that included nine pars on the front and just one bogey for the day (at No. 11). Robinson finished in the top 5 at this event a year ago. He played the Florida Amateur, Florida Open and Florida Match Play Championship over the summer, missing the cut in the first two events.

Robinson didn’t even have the cleanest card in the first round. That belonged to Batchelor, a Jacksonville, Fla., native who is a redshirt-senior on the University of North Florida team. He was bogey-free on the day.

And finally, Wann’s card had perhaps the most color, what with seven birdies and three bogeys spread over the day. Wann is a high school senior from Birmingham, Ala., who will play for Mississippi State beginning next fall.

The leaderboard is equally crowded behind the leaders. Ben Doyle, James Yoon, Sean Fromme and Nick Cummings are all tied for fourth at 3-under 69.

Greyson Porter, who won last week’s Orlando International Amateur and lost last year’s New Year’s Invitational in a playoff, is part of a five-man tie for eighth at 2-under 70.