ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — Cameron Younger birdied his final gap at midnight and held his sport collectively in the course of the worst of the rain Thursday to share the lead with Eric Cole and Davis Thompson at 6-under 66 amongst those that managed to complete the primary spherical on the RSM Basic.

A one-hour rain delay within the morning was adopted by a 2 1/2-hour delay within the afternoon due to rain that left puddles on the inexperienced and small swimming pools within the bunkers on the Seaside and Plantation programs at Sea Island.

Solely 65 gamers from 156-man discipline accomplished the primary spherical. It was to renew Friday morning, and with good climate within the forecast the remainder of the week, it shouldn’t take lengthy to get the match again on schedule.

Younger, Cole and Thompson, the son of RSM Basic match director Todd Thompson, all performed the Plantation course, which is a par 72.

Matt Kuchar, whose runner-up end final week in Bermuda all however secured his spot in two $20 million tournaments early subsequent yr, was at 5-under 65 after birdies on three of his final 4 holes on the wind-exposed Seaside course.

Cole is a number one candidate to be PGA Tour Rookie of the Yr, and a very good end within the ultimate match of the lengthy season couldn’t solely safe that however presumably transfer him excessive sufficient on the planet rating to get within the Masters.

Cole and Younger completed among the many prime 50 within the FedExCup and already are assured of being within the all of the signature occasions with the $20 million purses subsequent yr. Younger performed in Mexico just a few weeks in the past to begin shaking the rust off, and he’s off to a very good begin searching for his first PGA Tour victory. In his second yr on Tour, he has contended sufficient, significantly within the majors, to be No. 18 on the planet.

His ultimate birdie putt from 8 ft was pleasing as a result of it was getting so darkish after the delays that it was exhausting to learn the break. As for the par on his fourth gap, No. 13 at Plantation, when he pulled his tee shot into the water?

“That was like 12 hours in the past,” he mentioned. “I sort of forgot.”

He remembered the important thing element, which was taking his penalty drop and ripping a 5-iron onto the inexperienced and making the putt. He adopted with 4 birdies over the subsequent 5 holes, after which held on because the rain got here down exhausting.

“We bought the worst of it on 4, the par 5. It’s already like 625 [yards] or one thing and I hit about pretty much as good a drive as I can and about the very best 3-iron I might should nonetheless have like 125 yards in, which doesn’t occur all that usually,” Younger mentioned. “That gap was taking part in about 750 in all probability.”

It was on-and-off for a lot of the day earlier than the heavy stuff arrived.

Ludvig Åberg had 14 pars to go together with three birdies and an eagle late in his 4 a 5-under 67 whereas taking part in alongside Younger. Open champion Brian Harman, who got here near profitable at Sea Island final yr, needed to accept a 71 at Plantation.

Gamers vying to play their means inside the highest 60, prime 125 and prime 150 on the FedExCup Fall factors listing dominated the Day 1 at Sea Island Resort.

Russell Knox was among the many early starters and shot 66 on the Seaside course, an essential begin as a result of he’s No. 146 within the FedExCup. Solely the highest 125 get full PGA Tour playing cards for subsequent yr. The highest 150 at the least have conditional standing.

“I’ve joked with my household, like 80% of the time I’m a world-class participant, the opposite 20% of the time I’m a 20-handicap,” Knox mentioned. “These moments are killing me. I drove the ball the worst I’ve ever pushed it this yr and that’s the explanation why I’m within the place I’m in. The remainder of my sport has been fairly good, to be sincere.

“So it’s been troublesome, however on the similar time it’s not imagined to be simple, proper?”