Sports India

Joey Sindelar’s quest for a third B.C. Open title didn’t get off to a good start.

Sindelar, of Horseheads, had three birdies and two bogeys in an opening-round 1-under 71 Thursday at Atunyote Golf Club, leaving him tied for 54th and six shots behind leader Mark Brooks after the first round of the B.C. Open presented by Turning Stone.

“I was pretty stinky today,” said Sindelar, the 1985 and 1987 champion. “I was out of synch a little bit in the beginning. The last several holes I got it going better. I guess I should be darn happy with 71.

“I’m not out of winning, but I would like to have been in the 60s today.”

Sindelar’s round was hindered by troubles off the tee, as he hit only seven of 14 fairways.

“On this course, if you drive it well you’re on offense, and if you’re not you’re scratching your head a little bit.”

TATAURANGI PULLS STRIPTEASE

Phil Tataurangi provided a moment of levity on the par-5 12th hole.

After hitting his second shot into the water, Tataurangi discovered his ball resting close to the edge of the pond.

So instead of taking a drop, Tataurangi decided to play the ball from the pond. However, before doing so, he took off his shirt before hitting the ball so it wouldn’t get wet.

Tataurangi managed to hit the ball onto the green, where he two-putted for par.

“I told him that shot’s not in my bag,” said a laughing Sindelar, who was playing with Tataurangi in a group that also included defending champion Jason Bohn. “I’ll ruin 15 shirts before (trying that).

“It was fun, I haven’t seen shirt-off in all my years, he’s probably very happy he works out and takes care of himself. That’s golf, just when you think you’ve seen it all, you haven’t.”

BUMP STRUGGLES

It appears J.B. Bump’s first PGA Tour appearance may be a short one.

Bump, a Windsor High graduate who received a sponsor’s exemption, struggled to a 4-over 76. He’ll likely need at worst a 68 today to have any chance of making the 36-hole cut.

“I didn’t drive it all that well, but I hit way too many loose iron shots,” Bump said. “A couple of times I had no chance to get up and down for par, and that was frustrating.”

Bump did manage birdies on the par-4 14th and par-5 18th, the birdie on 18 coming via a 12-foot left-to-right downhill putt.

But that was not enough to overcome four bogeys and a double-bogey 6 on the 17th hole.

“There were some nerves, but it wasn’t too bad,” Bump said. “To be honest I was quite relaxed. It was disappointing the number of bad shots I hit.”

At least Bump fared better than Mike Deuel.

Deuel, En-Joie Golf Club’s director of golf, opened double bogey-bogey-bogey en route to an opening-round 80.

ODDS AND ENDS

Elmira’s Mike Hulbert, the 1989 champion, opened with a 4-under 68. Hulbert also opened last year’s B.C. Open at En-Joie with a 68 before finishing tied for 69th. … There were 18 eagles in the first round, including 10 on the par-5 12th hole. Remarkably, there were five eagles on par-4s, with Arjun Atwal, Mike Standly and Larry Rinker posting 2s on No. 9, Jon Mills making eagle on No. 10 and Briny Baird doing the trick on No. 15.