Paul Waring (-7) set the pace in Round 1 of the Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course, carding a superb opening score to take the outright lead. His sharp ball-striking and confident putting gave him the edge on a demanding layout. Gary Woodland (-6) followed closely behind, keeping himself within striking distance after a strong start.

Just one shot further back at -5, Sam Burns, Tom Hoge, and Michael Brennan all produced impressive rounds to share third place, positioning themselves well for the weekend. A group at -4, including Marco Penge, Stephan Jäger, Kurt Kitayama, Matt Wallace, and Zecheng Dou remain firmly in contention, showing the depth of talent in the field.

Waring’s opening round has given him the early advantage, but with Woodland close behind and a tightly packed group chasing, the Houston Open is wide open. Memorial Park’s challenging design is already rewarding precision and consistency, setting the stage for an exciting battle as the tournament heads into Round 2.