BROOKSVILLE, FL | Colombian Oscar Alvarez posted eight birdies en route to a 5-under-par 67 during the first round of the Web.com Tour's second stage while B.J. Pitzen, of Lakeland, caddied at Southern Hills Plantation. Alvarez, who played full time on the 2013 PGA Tour's Latinoamerica NEC Series, sits in a tie for fourth-place out of 76 competitors. The top-19 players and ties after four rounds will advance to the Web.com Tour finals in La Quinta, California on Dec. 12-17 at PGA West's TPC Stadium and Nicklaus TC courses.
Alvarez began on No. 10 Tuesday with a bogey after hitting his tee shot in the right trap. Alvarez drained a 15 foot putt on the par-5 No. 12 for birdie but dropped a shot on No. 14 after missing the green short with his approach shot.
Alvarez's round turned around quickly with six birdies in the next seven holes as he carded a lone bogey on No. 18 while coming up short on his approach to the green. Alvarez's hot streak was highlighted by a chip-in for birdie on No. 16, knocking his tee shot on the par-3 No. 17 to 6 feet before converting the birdie, chipping in for birdie on No. 2 and knocking in a 60 foot putt from off the green for birdie on No. 3. Alvarez capped off his round with a birdie on the lenghty par-5 No. 7.
Alvarez tees off Wednesday, November 19 at 9:14 a.m. off the first tee and will again be partnered with Arjun Atwal and David Branshaw. Pitzen, who toted his best single round score Tuesday as a caddie, will be on the bag for the duration of second stage. Catch the leaderboard all week live from Brooksville as Pitzen tries to help Alvarez move on to the finals at the following web address: http://pgatq.bluegolf.com/blue