Neal Shipley makes 5 straight birdies, shoots 67 in 1st round on PGA Tour

Neal Shipley’s first round in a PGA Tour event ended with a bang Thursday afternoon.

Playing the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club on a sponsor’s exemption, Shipley made five consecutive birdies on his back nine to shoot a 5-under 67 for the day. He’s tied for ninth place, three shots off the lead held by Akshay Bhatia.

The Central Catholic grad from Mt. Lebanon started his round on the back nine and struggled out the gates, making bogeys on Nos. 11 and 12.

His round took a dramatic turn for the better when he holed out from 102 yards on the 392-yard par-4 first hole to get into red numbers at 1-under. He bogeyed No. 2 before his five-birdie run started on No. 4.

He hit his tee shot on the 175-yard par-3 fifth inside 8 feet and his second shot on the par-4 472-yard sixth inside 6 feet.

The Rocket Mortgage Classic is Shipley’s second professional tournament. Last week, he finished tied for ninth at The Beachlands Victoria Open on the PGA Tour Americas. He was the low amateur at The Masters and U.S. Open before turning pro.

Shipley also found out Thursday that he has received a sponsor’s exemption to play in the John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour next week in Silvis, Ill.