Danny Lee sinks hole in one

Danny Lee smiles after hitting a hole in one. Photo / AP

Kiwi Danny Lee has fired an ace at the par-three 17th during the opening round of the AT&T Byron Nelson tournament on the PGA Tour in Texas.

The hole-in-one was one of two eagles Lee made today in his round of 67, which left him in a share of eighth at three-under. The 24-year-old is five strokes back from leader Steven Bowditch who signed for an eight-under 62 to start the event.

Lee's ace, the 25th of the season on tour, will win a lucky fan a year's worth of mortgage payments courtesy of Quicken Loans.

The Quicken Loans' Hole-In-One Sweepstakes awards one year's worth of mortgage payments to a randomly selected entrant for every ace during official PGA Tour events from the Phoenix Open through to the Tour Championship.

Lee, who used a five-iron for his hole-in-one at TPC Four Seasons Resort, was asked where the ball went after his round.

"My caddie's got it," Lee joked. "... I think he's gonna put it on eBay or something."

Lee, who is hovering around the top 50 on the FedEx Cup standings, was the best of the Kiwis in Texas, although Steven Alker delivered a promising one-under 69 during his first round, which included four birdies and three bogeys, to sit in a tie for 33rd.

Alker came in to the tournament in 181st on the FedEx Cup standings and making another cut this week would help boost his status on tour.

Manawatu's Tim Wilkinson struggled in his first round as he fired a two-over 72 to sit back in the field in a share of 108th. Wilkinson is in 178th on the FedEx Cup pecking order and could also do with a decent showing this week.

Meanwhile, North Shore professional Michael Hendry made a blistering start to the Mizuno Open in Japan with a nine-under 63 to hold a two-stroke lead after the opening round at the JFE Setonaikai Golf Club yesterday.

Hendry, who recorded his maiden win on the Japan Tour earlier this year, will be chasing a handful of spots for The Open Championship in Scotland in July that are up for grabs at this week's tournament.

On the PGA Tour China circuit, Josh Geary, who leads the order of merit, made a solid start to the Lanhai Open as he carded a five-under 67 to have a share of the lead after the first round yesterday.