Collin Morikawa leads Sony Open after first-round 65

Collin Morikawa, 22, carded a flawless five-under-par 65 to top the leaderboard at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu on Thursday.

American golfer Collin Morikawa

American golfer Collin Morikawa earned a two-stroke lead on day one of the Sony Open in Hawaii.

Morikawa, 22, carded a flawless five-under-par 65 to top the leaderboard at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu on Thursday.

Eyeing his second PGA Tour title after winning the 2019 Barracuda Championship, Morikawa holed five birdies in a bogey-free round to be ahead of Matt Jones, Ted Potter Jr., Ryan Palmer and Sam Ryder.

The opening round was suspended due to darkness, with 14 players yet to complete their 18 holes.

Controversial American Patrick Reed signed for a first-round 69 to be four strokes behind his countryman heading into day two.

Round 1 @SonyOpenHawaii has been suspended due to darkness. Leaderboard heading into Friday:

1. @Collin_Morikawa -5
T2. Matt Jones -3
T2. @TedPotterJrPGA
T2. @RyanPalmerPGA
T2. @SamRyderSU

Full leaderboard: https://t.co/vZk1d8dmgTpic.twitter.com/oYLhhqxAlw

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 10, 2020

 

Reed is in a 15-way tie for 16th place, alongside defending champion Matt Kuchar – who birdied the last to move to one under.

It was a tough day for former world number one and American star Justin Thomas after winning last week's Tournament of Champions.

Thomas – a 12-time winner on the PGA Tour – ended the day two over par following five bogeys and three birdies.

After bogeying three of his first five holes, Thomas birdied the ninth prior to the turn but another pair of bogeys to go with as many birdies meant he struggled to make inroads.