From the late wave and beginning on 10 tee, World No. 66 Kurt Kitayama twirled a bogey-free 5-under 35-32=67 in R1 of the Rocket Mortgage Classic to sit T8, three back of co-leaders Tony Finau and Taylor Pendrith, who played in the earlier session.
The 29-year-old is making his second appearance after a missed cut by eight in 2020 (71-76) as a non-member, open-qualifier. He arrived a lofty 41st in the FedExCup standings and off a career-tying-best solo 2nd at the Scottish Open three weeks ago, where he was T4 after 18 holes, followed by a T72 at The 150th Open at St Andrews, where he opened bogey-free and was T5 after 18 holes (68-73-73-73). Today, the UNLV alum ticked five birdies at 11, 13, 14, 15 (from 36'11") and 4, on 13 (of 14) fairways and 17 greens in regulation, gaining 1.832 strokes off-the-tee, 2.008 approaching and eking out a 0.113 on-the-green with 31 total putts.