Hoey, Lipsky fire 63, trail leaders by five at Zurich Classic

Rico Hoey of the Philippines plays a shot on the 15th hole during the first round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans 2026 at the TPC Louisiana on April 23, 2026 in Avondale, Louisiana.

Stacy Revere / Getty Images / AFP

MANILA, Philippines — Rico Hoey delivered a sizzling start at the back nine as he and partner David Lipsky combined for a nine-under 63, trailing leaders Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer by five strokes after the opening round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at the TPC Louisiana on Thursday (Friday Manila time).

The $9.5-million championship is the lone team event on the PGA Tour calendar, featuring 80 two-player teams competing in a unique format that alternates between Four-ball (Rounds 1 and 3) and Foursomes (Rounds 2 and 4). Each member of the winning team earns 400 FedEx Cup points.

Hoey set the tone early, birdieing No. 10 — where the pair teed off — before eagling the par-5 11th, showcasing both power and precision. Lipsky added a birdie on No. 14, while Hoey picked up another stroke on the next as the duo raced to five-under early.

The ICTSI-backed Hoey stayed hot, birdieing the 16th while Lipsky birdied No. 18, as the pair turned in an impressive seven-under 29. However, they were unable to maintain the same momentum on the front nine. Hoey still finished with three birdies against one bogey, helping the team settle for a share of 16th place.

Lipsky matched Hoey’s birdie on No. 2 but also dropped a shot on the third, slightly blunting what could have been a more explosive round.

At the top of the leaderboard, Smalley and Springer fired a scorching 14-under 58, highlighted by an eagle on the second hole and a closing stretch of four straight birdies. They hold a one-shot lead over Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat, who combined for a 59. Three other teams, including Eric Cole and Hank Lebioda, carded matching 60s.

Hoey and Lipsky now look to gain ground as the tournament shifts to the more demanding alternate-shot format on Friday, where success will hinge on chemistry and each player’s ability to complement the other’s game.