LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – It was a great first round of the Forty and Over Championship at the Piper Course at Lakewood National Golf Club. This event consists of 54 holes of individual gross stroke play, but includes a cut to the low 60 players and ties after 36 holes. Through 18 holes of the event, Brian Keenan fired a three-under-par, 69 in the morning and held onto a one stroke lead heading into the second round tomorrow.
What Happened
The morning wave started at 7:15am off of holes one and ten. Brian Keenan emerged as the clubhouse leader after firing a three-under-par, 69. The Tampa native was the only player in the field to break 70, and carded four birdies over 18 holes to hold the lead by one. He stated, “I played really solid today and I hit a ton of greens. I think I only missed one greed, and only had one three put, which is good for me. I had a good group to play with, and it was just a fun day.”
Seth Strickland and Ryan Torchia share second place both firing a two-under-par, 70. 
After a bogey on the first hole of the day, Torchia heated up on the fifth hole where he had four consecutive birdies. A birdie on his eleventh hole of the day brought him to four-under-par with the outright lead, but the Fort Myers native fell victim to a double on the 14th hole which brought him back to two-under-par and only one stroke shy of the leader. Torchia explained his strategy for tomorrow, “Today was the first day that I saw the course. It was good to get out there and see it and see where I can miss it, where I can hit it, and be aggressive. It’s a great golf course and I had a lot of fun so I am not changing anything. Played a round at two-under and there’s not much to change.”
In addition, Abbie Valentine found his way back in contention after posting a one-under-par, 71. Valentine is not only the defending champion, but holds the last two consecutive titles. “It’s just sort of the power of believing something can happen and then it does, you know. When you’ve come in and won something before, it just makes it more tangible. I also think there are higher expectations coming into the week, which sometimes can be a very good thing.” The Naples native is only two strokes off the lead heading into the second round tomorrow.
What’s Next
Tomorrow the waves will swap with the morning wave moving to the afternoon and the afternoon wave moving to the morning. In addition, the field will repair according to score, but will remain in the same wave.
Once 36 holes have been completed, the field will be cut to the low 60 competitors and ties. The remaining players will tee off in an 8am shotgun start for the final round on Sunday.
