World number 214 Roberto Castro has shot four birdies on the run home to take a two-shot first-round lead at the AT&T National, while Australia&aposs Jason Day is within striking distance. The 28-year-old American, who has never won on the PGA Tour, started on the back nine at the Congressional Country Club and was at one under half-way through his first round but a birdie on the first hole sparked his run to the top of the leaderboard. Castro posted three-consecutive birdies from the fifth hole to card a five-under 66 on Thursday, leading Billy Horschel, Bud Cauley and Canada&aposs Graham DeLaet by two strokes at the AT&T National. Day was the best-performed Australian in the first round at Congressional, notching a one-under 70 to remain within four shots of Castro, while John Senden is a further shot back. Horschel and Cauley both started well, beginning on the back nine and posting three birdies each by the half-way point of their opening rounds. In a blistering start, Horschel birdied the 10th, 12th and 13th holes but a bogey on the par-four third halted the 26-year-old&aposs momentum and he finished on three under after another birdie on the eighth. DeLaet survived an incredibly inconsistent round to finish in a share of second place alongside Horschel and Cauley, scoring six birdies and three bogeys. Horschel, Cauley and DeLaet have a one-stroke margin on a group of eight players including Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium, Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker.
Author: Omnisport