PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Keith Mitchell thrived in a tough wind on a tough Copperhead course at Innisbrook on Thursday until he dropped two shots late in his round and had to settle for a 4-under 67 and a five-way share of the lead in the Valspar Championship.
The gusts were in the 30 mph range at times. Rain pelted the players in the afternoon during a brief shower. And the course already has a reputation as one of the best tests on the PGA Tour.
For Mitchell, it was all about timing. He was expecting his share of bogeys on a day like this. It just stung a little more to be at 6 under, in the fairway on the par-5 fifth just 90 yards from the hole, and have to settle for a 67.
That dropped him into a share of the lead with Stephan Jaeger, Jacob Bridgeman, Ricky Castillo and Sami Valimaki. Only 21 players broke 70 with the potential of another, Kevin Velo, who was 2 under through 17 holes when play was suspended by darkness.
Velo can appreciate what Mitchell felt. He was bogey-free, tied for the lead, until his day ended with back-to-back bogeys.
Mitchell had a birdie chance from just inside 50 feet on the par-3 eighth, his 17th of the day, when he left it 10 feet short and three-putted for bogey. He then rode a strong wind into the right rough on the uphill ninth, went just over the back and finished with a bogey.
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