NAPLES, Fla. — In the opening round of the Grant Thornton Invitational, UCLA alumni Jake Knapp and Patty Tavatanakit made headlines by achieving a remarkable birdie at each hole on the front nine. They capped off their performance with an eagle and a birdie, finishing the day at 14-under par 58, which gave them a narrow one-stroke lead.

The tournament features 16 two-player teams from both the PGA Tour and LPGA, marking the second consecutive year for the mixed-team competition. Canadian golfers Brooke Henderson and Corey Conners made a strong push with two late eagles, missing a birdie opportunity at the 18th hole, and ended their round with a score of 59, sharing the second position with Akshay Bhatia and Jennifer Kupcho.

Knapp and Tavatanakit, who played together in college for UCLA, showcased a seamless connection during their round. They call themselves “Rocco,” a nod to Knapp’s past experience as a bouncer and a popular bar frequented by UCLA students. “Everything went as we had hoped,” Tavatanakit remarked, adding that the day felt very relaxed. “The timing and momentum were just right for us.”

Though they cooled off slightly after an explosive start of nine consecutive birdies, Knapp hit a fantastic shot on the par-5 17th hole that left him just five feet from the pin for an eagle. Tavatanakit then made a solid birdie putt from approximately 15 feet on the final hole, securing their lead. Knapp acknowledged their solid score, noting that being nine under after nine holes was a promising start, but they needed to maintain their opportunities without getting complacent.

Knapp is fresh off his first PGA Tour title victory at the Mexico Open, while Tavatanakit claimed her first major win as a rookie at the ANA Inspiration. Maja Stark and J.T. Poston shot a 61, tying with Sahith Theegala and Allisen Corpuz, while defending champions Lydia Ko and Jason Day finished with a score of 62, alongside Jeeno Thitikul and Tom Kim. Ko and Day’s round was marred by a bogey on the third hole, a rare occurrence in the scramble format.

Thitikul also recently won the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon, taking home a record $4 million prize, which is notable in women’s golf. As the tournament progresses into its Saturday rounds, the format will shift to foursomes, which tends to be the most challenging since only one ball is in play, requiring teammates to alternate shots.