Kokrak tied for second at Tour finale

Staff report

CHARLESTON, S.C.

Jason Kokrak of Warren is among three players tied for second place after the first round of the Nationwide Tour Championship.

Kokrak, whose home course is Trumbull Country Club, shot a 5 under par 67 at the Daniel Island Club Ralston Course.

He’s one shot off the lead of Mark Anderson.

Kokrak got rolling with consecutive birdies on holes 5, 6 and 7 on Thursday. He added three more birdies on the back nine, with only a bogey on No. 16.

Anderson holds the lead over Kokrak, Camilo Benedetti of Colombia and Ted Potter Jr. — like Kokrak, a two-time winner on the Nationwide Tour this season.

Andalucia Masters

SOTOGRANDE, Spain

Richie Ramsay shot a 6-under 65 to take a two-shot lead after the first round.

The 28-year-old Ramsay birdied four of the first 10 holes before an eagle-3 on No. 11. He chipped in for another birdie at the par-3 15th before his only blemish on the Valderrama course, a bogey at the par-5 17th.

Ross Fisher was Ramsay’s closest challenger with a 67, while Gregory Havret and Stephen Gallagher both shot 68 to trail by three.

Sergio Garcia, coming off his first victory in three years and hoping to become the first Spanish champion at Valderrama since it started hosting events in 1988, was five shots back in a tie for fifth after an inconsistent round.

Martin Kaymer finished with a 71.