Teenager Blades Brown posted a 7‑under 65 on Thursday, keeping him within three strokes of leader Trace Crowe at the inaugural Austin Championship, the city’s first PGA Tour event since the 2023 Match Play Championship. The round, played on the Omni Barton Creek course, saw low scoring before darkness halted play with 25 players still on the course, according to Golf Channel.
Brown’s 65 featured nine birdies and placed him at 62nd in the world rankings, a jump that follows his playoff victory in Mexico last week and a $20 million pair of signature event commitments early next year. He said, “I’m starting to get back to normal… after a couple hours of sleep I’m feeling a lot better. Get some food in me, yeah, feeling back to normal,” as reported by Golf Channel.
Trace Crowe, who posted a career‑best 62, led the field after the first round. Crowe, currently 117th in the FedExCup standings and facing a potential loss of his Tour card, said, “Just every part of my game was good. It didn’t feel fluky at all,” adding that he made a birdie on every hole except the par‑3 11th, where a tee shot over the green forced a chip for par.
Erik van Rooyen and Max Greyserman trailed Crowe by two shots, each carding a 64. Greyserman secured his round with a dramatic 70‑foot chip on the par‑5 18th for an eagle. High‑school senior Miles Russell, set to play at Florida State next year, posted a 67, while former Auburn standout Jackson Koivun recorded a 70 after a stumble on the turn.
The tournament’s opening round also featured several other notable competitors. Brown will share the first 36 holes with Andrew Novak, who captured a recent win in Mexico, while two‑time fall winner Austin Smotherman is paired with former Longhorn Tommy Morrison and pre‑tournament favorite Jackson Koivun. Smotherman, who has won back‑to‑back titles in Utah and Bermuda, is aiming for a third straight victory.
Round 1 tees off Thursday with Golf Channel’s live coverage beginning at 2 p.m. EST. Fans can follow the action online or on television as the field battles for the inaugural title.
What’s next: The second round is scheduled for Friday, with the tournament concluding on Sunday. Players will vie for the championship and a share of the purse, while local spectators can attend the remaining rounds at Barton Creek.
Sources: golfchannel.com, golfchannel.com
