With all eyes on The Open, American golfer Collins dominated in Opelika, Alabama on Friday thanks to an 11-under-par 60.
Collins had five birdies on the front nine, then made birdies on six consecutive holes, from No. 11 to No. 16.
Collins admitted that he was aiming for that 59 but is still ecstatic with his performance.
“Made a nice putt for birdie on five and that kind of just opened the doors for the rest of the round”, said Tringale, whose seven birdies included four after his lone bogey of the day, at the par-four 11th.
Power held a two shot lead at six under but three dropped shots in two holes at the third and fourth saw him fall back down the leaderboard to three under, three behind the round one leaders but still right in contention.
Collins hit his approach to the back fringe on the par-4 18th, leaving a 70-foot downhill birdie try that he hit 5 feet past. “Obviously I had that opportunity twice, one on the Web.Com Tour in Utah and now here, it didn’t happen either time but it is what it is”.
“On 17 hit a good shot, but I hit it a little heavy”, he said. “I did strike it well, but I made a lot of putts”. “I came out here with a very aggressive attitude, and it paid off”.
“I’ve gained a little bit of confidence striking-wise and I’ve gained in confidence with the putter”. We couldn’t quite figure out if it was kind of right center, right edge or left center, left edge.
“I hit a lot of fairways, gave myself a lot of good looks on the greens and was able to capitalize”. “I’m not too disappointed at all by 60, so I’ll take it”.
Collins, who has posted just a single top-10 finish all year, is now down in 170th spot in the FedEx Cup standings having survived only five 36-hole cuts this season. He had missed five straight cuts and 11 of the last 12.
Collins, a 38-year-old Indianapolis native, had his lowest round on the tour and tied the course record set last year by Jhonattan Vegas.