Joaquin Niemann in Lead After Round One at Kapalua

2020 Sentry Tournament of Champions at The Plantation Course in Kapalua, Maui. PC: Wendy Osher

The leader after round one of the 2020 Sentry Tournament of Champions is 21-year-old Joaquin Niemann, who was in a one-shot lead over Justin Thomas after day one on The Plantation Course in Kapalua.

In his first start at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, Niemann collected seven birdies en route to his second 18-hole lead on the PGA TOUR.

The leaderboard also includes Matt Kuchar and Rickie Fowler. In his eighth start, Matt Kuchar opened with a bogey-free 5-under 68, marking his 95thcareer bogey-free round on the PGA TOUR. Rickie Fowler made 16 of 16 putts from inside 10 feet, marking the first time in 12 career rounds at The Plantation Course at Kapalua were Fowler made every putt from inside 10 feet.

• Niemann and Fowler were the only two players to make every putt from inside 10 feet in round one (both went 16 of 16).

Defending champion Xander Schauffele opened 4-under 69 as he tries to become the first player since 2009-10 to go back-to-back at the event.

The 2020 Sentry Tournament of Champions runs through Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020 and features a $6.7 million purse with $1.34 million going to the winner.

In the past, there have been first-round leaders/co-leaders at the Sentry Tournament of Champions who went on to win.  The most recent was Dustin Johnson in 2013, which was a 54-hole event.

Weather on the course is partly cloudy, with a high of 80 and winds  blowing from the N/NE at 16 to 22 mph.

First-Round Leaderboard