List gets off to quick start in quest for first victory
Anne Szeker, PGATOUR.COM producer
The most recent stop on the Nationwide Tour was filled with rain and delays -- and for Luke List, a missed cut. It was a tough week at TPC Stonebrae, but List says he left with "momentum."
Momentum?
It might sound a little weird considering he missed the cut -- and no doubt he was disappointed -- but List was referring more to his final nine holes where he shot a bogey-free 30.
"Shooting 30 like that was great. Unfortunately I came up a few short, but I took all those positives into my practice last week," he said.
The practice paid off, and List finds himself one stroke off Robert Streb's lead after the first round at the South Georgia Classic Presented by First State Bank and Trust Company. He shot a 5-under 67, with just two bogeys. He also birdied on all four par-5s.
Brian Stuard and Sihwan Kim, who won the 2004 U.S. Junior Amateur at The Olympic Club, also shot 67s. Kim's only other Nationwide Tour start was in 2009 at the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational, where he finished tied for sixth. Robert Streb is the first-round leader at 6-under.
List is currently 16th on the Nationwide Tour money list, with his best finish a runner-up at the Panama Claro Championship. He's getting closer to his first win, but says he's struggled with Thursdays.
"It's like I wait for something good to happen. You have to put your head down and make it happen. Sometimes you force it too much, but on Thursdays I was only shooting even par," he said. "I knew how well I was playing and it was shooting me in the foot."
Not this week. List came out swinging.
"I got off to a really good start," said List, who birdied 10 and 11 to start his round. "I hit it close on the first two holes and was able to tap those in for birdies. It was a relief. That kind of made the round nice and esay."
List followed up with a bogey on 12 with a birdie on 13. He would have had a share of the lead were it not for a late bogey on the par-4 seventh, his 16th hole of the day.
The forecast for the week calls for more sunshine and not much wind, but Kinderlou Forest Golf Club won't be anything close to easy. At an intimidating 7781, it's the longest course players will face this year.
Advantage, List. He currently leads the Nationwide Tour in driving distance at 320.6.
"This course is really good for me because I can hit a lot of drivers. It's not the tightest, but it still forces you to hit some good shots and being able to use my driver out here as much as I do really helps."
Another advantage in List's favor? Experience. This is his third year playing this course.
"You get a lot of crosswinds, have to hit into the wind, it's tricky. It really swirls around in the pines," he said. "It's a great golf course. It's fair.
"I just have to attack a little bit and be patient out there."
