TRUCKEE, California — Seung-Yul Noh par-5 holed all three and scored a tournament-record 23 points Thursday to take the first-round lead at the Barracuda Championship at Tahoe Mountain Club.
Sanctioned by the European Tour, the tournament uses a modified Stableford scoring system, with Noh breaking the event’s tour mark of 18 points. Five points are awarded for an eagle and two for a birdie, while a point is deducted for a bogey and three for a double bogey.
“It’s a pleasure to have you playing today,” said Noh, noting that it was the first time he had made three Eagles.
The 32-year-old South Korean also had five birdies and two bogeys on the Par-71 Old Greenwood layout. He won the 2014 Zurich Classic in New Orleans for his only title on the PGA Tour.
“It’s only the first day, but there’s still a lot of confidence,” said Noah.
Bo Haussler was second with 17 points. He had a hole-in-one in the third and an eagle on a par-5 in the sixth in his final nine.
“I was kind of between the clubs,” Hossler said of the ace. “I think it was like 211 [yards], but at altitude, he was playing like a 190. I hit a 7-iron and landed a good place and entered. It looked like it was the only hole on the Tour this year that didn’t have a camera. “
Ryan Gerrard and France’s Alexandre Levy are tied for third with 16 points. Levi had eight birdies in a bogey-free run.
“It’s a different formula, but it’s nice to play that way sometimes,” Levy said.
Carson Young, Patrick Rodgers and Maximilian Kieffer scored 15 points.
Vincent Norman, the Swedish rookie touring player who beat Nathan Kimsey in last week’s playoff game at Kentucky’s Barbasol Championships, scored 11 points.
Defending champion Shi Rifei scored seven points. Geoff Ogilvy opened a six-point run. He won the 2014 title for his last professional win.
Brandt Snedeker scored two points. He plays on the shepherd’s release.