Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes surges to early lead at Procore Championship

For a moment on Thursday at the Procore Championship, Mackenzie Hughes was on 59 watch.

But while his pursuit of history was undone by back-to-back bogeys, the Canadian will surely still settle for a 9-under 63 and solo lead after the morning wave during Round 1 of the PGA Tour event in Napa, Calif.

Hughes, making his first start since the first FedEx Cup playoff event in early August, shot 29 with six birdies on the front nine and began his back nine with three more birdies in four holes.

Standing on the 14th tee box, the Dundas, Ont., native needed to go 4 under over his final five holes — which included two par-fives — to break 60. Instead, a wayward approach led to his first bogey.

Still, after also bogeying 15, Hughes bounced back with birdies on 16 and 18 to ensure he kept the lead to himself.

Matt McCarty sat second through the morning wave after shooting 8-under 64.

The Procore is the first event of the PGA Tour’s fall schedule, which does not count toward FedEx Cup points for next season but helps determine status for players who finished outside of the top 50.

It is also serving as a Ryder Cup warmup of sorts for Team USA, with 10 of 12 players competing at the Silverado Resort.

Canada’s Adam Hadwin, Adam Svensson and Ben Silverman are also in the field.