(PGATOUR) The first round of the 2022 John Deere Classic was closed on Tuesday (July 1). American J.T. Poston shot seven birdies and an eagle for a 62 (-9), tying the personal record for the lowest 18-hole total to lead the leaderboard by two shots.
Michael Griggi caught seven birdies for a 64 (-7) and was alone in second place. Pan shot a 69 (-2) to join players like Zach Johnson in 32nd place. Jenson Day withdrew before the start of the first round because of a back injury.
Zhang Xinjun shot 68 (-4) to rank T8 in the first round of the Guanghui International Tour-Asendante Championship held at the same time. Dou Zecheng is one shot behind at T10. Yuan Yechun shot 71 (-1) in the T40.
Boston was in perfect touch and tied his personal low
This year's 51st edition of the John Deere Classic will offer three valuable spots to players who have yet to qualify for the year's final major, the British Open.
So, in addition to competing for the title, the best players will also be fighting for the "appearance at St Andrews".
American J.T. Poston, 29, finished T2 at the Travelers Championship last week, his best finish of the season so far.
In the first round, he continued his good form. Starting on the back nine, he birdied Nos. 13-14 and 17-18 back to back.
He birdied the first hole, followed by an eagle on the par-5 second hole. After 11 holes, he was at -7 to take the lead.
On the fourth hole, he birdied a shot from a bunker off the green that was voted the best shot of the round. With another birdie on the final hole, he finished the opening round with seven birdies and an eagle for a -9 62.
He now has 46 consecutive bogey-free holes, dating back to the ninth hole in the third round of the Travelers Championship last week.
（Boston First round scorecard）
In this round, his fairway rate was 78.57% (11/14), ranking T14 in the field. The attacking rate of the green reached 88.89% (16/18), which was high at T2.
The 62 not only tied Boston's personal 18-hole record, but also made him the first player on the PGA Tour to shoot 62 or lower in the first round of two consecutive tournaments (Travelers Championship, John Deere Classic) since records began in 1983.
（Boston is looking to win a second PGA Tour title）
Boston's only current title came at the Wyndham Championship in 2018-19. If he can maintain his hot touch this week, he will have a chance to attack the second personal PGA Tour title.
Lead the standings
（Greggy was second alone）
Michael Greggi of Canada, who missed the cut last year, is alone in second place at -7 after making seven birdies, including three birdies on Nos. 7-9. The 64 also set his personal record for the lowest score in 18 holes.
Vaughn Taylor and Christopher Gortrup also shot 65 (-6) to tie for third.
Pan had five birdies, one bogey and one double bogey to finish with a 69 (-2) on T32. Joining him in the big group is Zach Johnson, who is playing in the John Deere Classic for the 20th time this year.
