Munoz leads in Illinois, Power stays connected

Colombian Sebastian Munoz finished with five straight birds to grab a share of the lead after the first round of the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois.

The 75-year-old boy had dropped to 75th place in the Scoreboard after four birds and a bogie had gone through 11 holes, but after pars at 12 and 13 Munoz bragged into action.

He sank six feet into Putin’s three at par-fourteen on the 14th, and then continued his spectacular run home by dipping the bird tubes 11-18 feet into his last four holes.

This gave him a brilliant eight to under 63 years old, putting him on par with American Chesson Hadley, who birded four of his last six bogey-free rounds.

The pair was a shot from three players, including another Colombian at Camilo Villegas and American Chez Reavie and Hank Lebioda.

Ireland’s Seamus Power is five shots of momentum after three under-68s are secured with three birds in his first seven holes plus 15 pars, and a level with Scottish Martin Laird mixing five birds with two bogies.

“It was a really solid round,” Munoz said. “Hit the ball really good all day. I had a hot putter coming in. I didn’t do much nine in the front, so it was nice to see them go in the back. You know, solid golf, make putts, hit shots.”