NAPLES, Fla. — A pair of familiar faces are near the top of the 26th annual Terra Cotta Invitational after the first round.
Defending champion Caleb Surratt, an 18-year-old University of Tennessee commit, is leading, and Ukrainian Misha Golod, who has captivated the golf world since escaping the war-torn country to the U.S. in March, isn’t too far behind at Naples National Golf Club on Friday.
Surratt, from Indian Trail, North Carolina, was 3 under before a bogey at No. 8, but he bounced back with three straight birdies on Nos. 11-13 and added another at No. 15.
He made two difficult pars on Nos. 9 and 10 before getting that first birdie from 15 feet. Surratt bogeyed No. 16, then parred the last two to finish three strokes ahead of Golod.
“It’s kind of discipline, I think I know what it takes around here to play well and I kind of stuck to that same game plan, no matter how great things were going or bad things were going,” Surratt said. “I think it’s important to not get too aggressive, but play aggressively smart around here.”
Golod’s story was first told in Golf Digest in early March, and from there the golf world rose to the occasion to raise funds and awareness to help him get out of the country. He arrived in Orlando on March 11, and received a scholarship at the David Leadbetter Academy and received housing accommodations. A Leadbetter instructor is with him in Naples this weekend.
Golod was an honorary starter at the Players Championship shortly after coming to America, and then got to take in practice rounds at the Masters and attend the Golf Writers Association of America banquet in Augusta a few weeks ago.
The 15-year-old had only played one golf tournament in a few months, but shook off any rust for one day at least. He bogeyed three of his first five holes, but sank a 25-foot, breaking birdie putt at No. 7, a challenging par save at No. 8, and birdied Nos. 9 and 10 to get to even par. Golod saved a bogey on No. 11, but responded with birdies on Nos. 14, 15 and 16, then parred the last two for a 70.
“I’m obviously delighted with the score, and to make a comeback,” Golod said. “It’s awesome to make that comeback to get to 2 under par. Hopefully I give myself a chance on Sunday.
“I was pretty much as relaxed as I could but because obviously I’m probably one of the youngest players in here, and it’s the first time playing in this tournament and I’m just happy and having fun. We’re just out there smiling all day long, so it was awesome.”
Nicholas Prieto, a 17-year-old from Miami, is in second, a stroke behind Surratt. Ben James, a Virginia commit from Connecticut, is in third after a 69. Canadian Jean-Philippe Parr is tied for fourth with Golod. Luke Poulter, and a University of Florida commit and the 18-year-old son of tour pro Ian Poulter, is tied for sixth at 71 with Florida State commit Luke Clanton of Miami Lakes.
Lucas Fallotico, one of several FGCU men’s golfers in the field, is the top local player, tied for 13th at 1 over par.
The second round is Saturday, with leaders teeing off at 10:12 a.m. ET The final round is Sunday.
