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Xinjun Zhang Shoots 64 In First Round; Long, Arnaud One Shot Back After 65s

Aaron Wise, left, and Jason Gore shake hands upon completion of the first round of the LECOM Health Challenge on the Upper Course at Peek’n Peak Resort on Thursday. Both players shot a 6-under 66 and are tied for fourth place. P-J photo by Cody Crandall

FINDLEY LAKE — The sun was shining and the conditions were favorable for many of golf’s rising stars during the opening round of the Web.com Tour’s 2017 LECOM Health Challenge on Thursday.

But no one in the 156-man field took advantage of the prime scoring conditions at Peek’n Peak’s Upper Course more than Xinjun Zhang.

Zhang, who entered competition at No. 15 on the Web.com Tour money list, came through with a bogey-free round of 64 (8-under par) to take the solo lead into the second day of action.

The native of Shanxi, China recorded four birdies on the back nine — he began his round on hole No. 10 — and four birdies on the front nine to cap off his stellar day.

“Starting out the first two or three holes we were a little tight,” Zhang said. “I had some good opportunities early on, but didn’t capitalize on them. But after that my swing came around and I started making some putts.”

Zach Zabach P-J photo by Mark L. Anderson

According to the Web.com Tour, Zhang is looking to become the first Chinese-born player to earn a PGA TOUR card.

“That’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot,” Zhang explained. “Right now, my wife and trainer have come over to give me the support I need. I’m trying to put that aside and play each tournament without thinking about that. I’m trying to focus on the moment, get my confidence back and take it one step at a time.”

His play this season on the Web.com Tour has been impressive, to say the least. He’s finished second in both the Chitimacha Louisiana Open and BMW Charity Pro-Am.

And if his performance in the first round Thursday was any indication, something about the Upper Course at Peek’n Peak certainly catches his eye as well.

“I liked the course from the moment I got here,” Zhang stressed. “It is in spectacular condition. The greens and fairways are immaculate, which helped the round today.”

Brian Richey P-J photo by Mark L. Anderson

Zhang will tee off today on No. 1 at 8:06 a.m.

Adam Long and Michael Arnaud find themselves in a tie for second after carding 7-under 65s.

Long, who played his collegiate golf at Duke University, started his morning round on the 10th hole and birdied Nos. 11, 12, 16 and 18 before posting three more birdies on the front nine to put himself in excellent position.

“It was pretty easy,” Long stated. “Just one of those days where things were pretty simple for me. The last handful of events for me, it seems like each round was kind of a struggle. I’ve been fighting through some swing stuff and it’s been one thing after another not really clicking. It’s made for some stressful rounds and tournaments. So, (I) took the week off last week and felt a little more refreshed mentally and was able to go out there and keep it pretty simple for myself.”

Interestingly enough, Arnaud punched his ticket into this year’s LECOM Health Challenge via the Monday qualifier at Shorewood County Club in Dunkirk.

Ryan Swanson P-J photo by Mark L. Anderson

He previously had status on the Web.com Tour, but couldn’t keep his card following a somewhat difficult campaign last season. He ended up 127th on last year’s money list.

The LECOM Health Challenge is his first event of this season and things couldn’t have started much better.

“I’ve been playing good this year,” Arnaud emphasized. “I played really good on Monday, and more than anything, my putting has been good. I continued that today, putted really well and posted a good score. … I just know I’ve been playing good. I’ve been close in some Monday qualifiers, so I just knew if I got into an event here or there, I knew I was going to play well. I didn’t really put any pressure on myself; I just went out and treated it like any other round, like I was a full member and it was any other event on the schedule.”

Long will tee off today on hole No. 1 at 1:15 p.m. while Arnaud will tee off on No. 1 at 2:32 p.m.

Aaron Wise, a former NCAA individual champion at the University of Oregon, and Jason Gore, who sat at No. 18 on the money list entering the week, headline the group of players tied for fourth at 6-under (66).

Anders Albertson and Albin Choi joined Wise and Gore in a tie for fourth after also posting a final score of 66.

Sam Ryder, Michael Johnson, Vince Covello, Josh Teater, Jarin Todd, Jeff Gove and Zachary Olsen all find themselves in a tie for eighth at 5-under (67).

Dwayne Randall, the director of golf and head pro at Peek’n Peak, fired a 4-over 76 and Panama resident Ryan Swanson ended his first day of action at 16-over.

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