American Orr Fires 65 to Take Early Lead at CRMC Championship

• 2023 CRMC Championship Round 4
• 2023 CRMC Championship Round 3
• 2023 CRMC Championship Round 2
• 2023 CRMC Championship Round 1

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  BRAINERD, Minn. – Entering the week with a string of six consecutive missed cuts at PGA Tour Canada events, Ryan Orr is hoping to change his fortune at this week’s CRMC Championship.

Orr took the first step by shooting a 5-under 65 in blustery conditions to take the opening-round lead Thursday at Cragun’s Dutch Legacy.

“It was nice to take advantage of teeing off early—it was still windy the whole round, but that back nine got super gusty,” Orr said after his round Thursday. “I’ve been working on a lot of things, so I’m finally hitting the ball solid. Just a matter of trusting it and being confident in what I’m doing.

“I’ve been struggling a little bit with the swing early on, and trying too many different things. Got back to the basics, and after the missed cut last week, I was able to come down here early and got a lot of work in.”

Currently 148th in the Fortinet Cup standings, Orr said he’s aware that a big week is in order to climb inside the top-60 and earn a spot in the final event of the season at next week’s Fortinet Cup Championship.

“I don’t know exactly what I need—maybe a top-5 or maybe a win,” he said. “I’m out here with nothing to lose, have fun, trust my stuff and try to go win the golf tournament.

“I used to struggle with getting too far ahead. It’s the first round of the tournament and you have so much golf left to play.”

Beginning his round on the 10th tee Thursday, Orr sank a 30-footer for birdie on his opening hole before taking back-to-back bogeys at the 12th and 13th.

The former University of Florida golfer would stay out of trouble for the remainder of the round, playing his final 14 holes in 6-under to take the clubhouse lead at 5-under 65.

“I kept the ball in play off the tee, and from there tried to keep the ball below the hole in safe places,” the 28-year-old Floridian said. “Make as many easy pars as I could, and if I got a couple of extra birdies, then great.”

Winner of the Osprey Valley Open last month for his first win as a professional, Davis Shore played his first nine holes in 5-under by carding an eagle and three birdies.

Following a bogey at his 14th hole, Shore converted back-to-back birdie chances to reach 6-under for the round, but stumbled over his final two holes with a pair of bogeys to post a 4-under 66, finishing in a share of second place with Sam Jean, Cole Bradley, Yi Cao and Jason Hong.

“It was playing really difficult today, especially the second nine,” said former University of Alabama golfer Shore Thursday. “I was hitting the ball really well all day, and that helps in these breezy conditions. Any miss tee-to-green is going to be a lot worse than if the wind wasn’t blowing.”

Shore currently sits ninth in the Fortinet Cup standings, needing to move up four spots to earn Korn Ferry Tour status for the 2023-24 season.

“You try to not think about it because you just have to go out and shoot low scores. I know I need a couple good finishes and think I got myself off to a good start today. I haven’t felt any more pressure than you would normally feel—just trying to compete in the tournament.”

Earning an exemption into this week’s championship with his convincing win at the Minnesota State Open at Oak Ridge Country Club in July, Valparaiso University golfer Caleb VanArragon bounced back from an early double-bogey by converting a pair of birdie chances over his last 10 holes to post an opening-round 70 to lead a contingent of Minnesotans in the field.

Former University of Minnesota golfer Thomas Longbella fired a 2-over 72 despite three double-bogeys on his scorecard Thursday. The Chippewa Falls, Wis., native will begin Friday’s second round tied for 79th.

Former Pepperdine University golfer Derek Hitchner, who made his PGA Tour debut at the 3M Open last month, posted a 3-over 73 to finish his opening round tied for 79th, while Grant Shafranski finished his first round tied for 145th, shooting 8-over 78.

Earning a sponsor’s exemption into the championship this week, the Minnesota Wild’s Matt Boldy, the second of two amateurs in the field, carded a 9-over 79 Thursday to finish the first round tied for 150th.

With two groups left on the course when play was suspended due to darkness Tuesday, the first round of the 2023 CRMC Championship will resume at 8:15 a.m. at Cragun’s Dutch Legacy Course, while second-round tee times will remain the same.



THE 2023 CRMC CHAMPIONSHIP
CRAGUN’S DUTCH LEGACY COURSE
BRAINERD, MINN.
7,001 YARDS, PAR 70


THURSDAY’S FIRST ROUND RESULTS
1. Ryan Orr, United States, 33-32—65
2. Davis Shore, United States, 30-36—66
T2. Sam Jean, United States, 34-32—66
T2. Cole Bradley, United States, 32-34—66
T2. Yi Cao, China, 37-29—66
T2. Jason Hong, Australia, 33-33—66
T7. Mason Glinski, United States, 34-33—67
T7. Sudurshan Yellamaraju, Canada, 34-33—67
T7. Blake Tomlinson, United States, 34-33—67
T7. George Kneiser, United States, 32-35—67
T7. Brian Richey, United States, 31-36—67
T7. Josh Radcliff, United States, 35-32—67
T7. Reid Davenport, United States, 33-34—67

T41. CALEB VANARRAGON (A), BLAINE, MINN., 36-34—70
T78. THOMAS LONGBELLA, UNIV. OF MINN., 36-36—72
T97. DEREK HITCHNER, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., 36-37—73
T128. THOMAS LEHMAN, SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ., (+6 thru 15 holes)
T143. GRANT SHAFRANSKI, NORTH OAKS GC, 38-40—78
T149. MATT BOLDY (A), MILFORD, MASS, 40-39—79
150. THOMAS AVANT, CHANDLER, ARIZ., 40-40—80


For complete tournament results go to: www.pgatour.com/canada/leaderboard