Matt Atkins takes lead in fog-shortened first round at Ellie Mae Classic at TPC Stonebrae

HAYWARD, Calif. — Matt Atkins carded an 8-under 62 on Thursday to take the first-round lead at the Ellie Mae Classic at TPC Stonebrae. After a one-hour fog delay pushed back morning tee times, a second fog delay at 6:50 p.m. forced play to be called for the day.

“Just talking golf, it was a solid round,” Atkins said. “When I mishit a shot, I was still in a good spot today. I had a couple of holes where I really needed to scramble at the end, but I saved par. I took care of the par-5s and I drove it on the green on the one drivable hole on the back nine. Overall it was a good round.”

Atkins is coming off a more eventful couple of weeks than most; 13 days ago he and his wife Jill welcomed their first child, Audrey Claire Atkins. He withdrew after the first round two weeks ago in Omaha when he learned Jill was in labor back home in North Augusta, South Carolina.

“Some people have brought up to me people sometimes playing better in their first event back after having a baby,” Atkins said. “With your perspective changing, I could see that having an effect. But I’m definitely out here playing hard. It’s a win-win. If I don’t play well then I won’t get into the Finals and will go home to spend time with my family which is important to me anyways. If I do play well, then I’ll still go see them for a couple of days before getting to play in the Finals and have a chance at a TOUR card. So I’m just free-wheeling it right now.”

Starting on the 10th hole, Atkins birdied four out of his first six holes and turned at 4-under 31. On his second nine, Atkins continued his bogey-free ways and added birdies at Nos. 3, 4, 6 and 9 to reach 8-under 62. The 62 was his lowest round since the 2017 Korn Ferry Tour Championship.

While he didn’t make any long putts, Atkins credited improved putting to his low round. The round was his first in the 60s since late June.

“My putter is usually the strongest club in my bag, but the last two years it has been pretty disappointing,” Atkins said. “I was home last week and found a little something. I was on my way to feeling better and it really came together last week. Now I have two weeks left to see what happens.”

Currently at No. 137 in the season-long Korn Ferry Tour points standings, Atkins needs a strong finish over the final two tournaments of the Regular Season to reach the top 75. Finishing in the top 75 earns a spot in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals as well as retention of full Korn Ferry Tour status for the 2020 season.

Matthew NeSmith, another player from North Augusta, South Carolina, sits one shot back at 7-under 63. NeSmith went 5-under on the front nine and reached 8-under through 16 holes before a late bogey saw him settle for a career-low round of 63.

“I finally got off to a good start and was able to carry that momentum through the front nine and into the back nine,” NeSmith said. “I’m just happy it’s not 95 degrees and humid. We’ve been in some warmer places over the last few weeks so it’s nice to have some chilly weather.”

The first round will resume beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Friday.