Jeremy Koling connects for a birdie on Hole 17. Photo: Hayden Henry / PDGA

TYLER, Texas — A couple of par putts helped sparked the co-leaders of the 26th Annual Texas State Disc Golf Championship presented by Latitude 64.

Yes, par putts.

Jeremy Koling got his only miscue of the day out of the way early in his round and his bid was enough fuel for the fire. Casey White, meanwhile, connected on a big putt right out of the gate and he was off to the races.

The duo fired off 10-under rounds of 52, unofficially rated 1073, to grab the early lead of the 2021 PDGA National Tour opener on Friday.

“I missed my line by just a little bit, hit a tree and dropped into the out-of-bounds creek,” Koling said. “From there, I almost made the putt from 70 feet for par. I think that great run for par, even though it was a bogey, inspired a little bit of confidence. The next drive, I pured it right down the fairway and got a birdie.”

White, who was one of just three players to turn in a bogey-free day on the punishing Dogwood course, got his tester out of the way on the first hole. Like Koling, it provided a big spark.

Casey White was one of three players to go bogey free on Friday. Photo: Hayden Henry / PDGA

“My only goal that I gave myself was to go bogey free,” White, a Massachusetts native no stranger to the woods, said. “I went bogey free and it just came with a lot more birdies than I guess I could have asked for. The first hole, I started with a 45-foot death putt for par, and I made it. After that, every putt felt easier. They were just all falling in.”

A comfort level in the woods, particularly the tight and tree-filled fairways that Dogwood presents, played a factor for the co-leaders as well.

“I like the diversity of this place, I mean it’s pretty much one thing out there, but I like that it’s diverse from what we play on tour,” Koling said. “I think that disc golf offers a lot of different ideas and creativity that forces the player to think.

“I didn’t exceed my expectations. I expected to do well. The sidearm line out here is so dialed in for my skillset. The shapes and angles of these fairways make sense to the way that I like to throw the forehand.”

After his bogey on the second, which features a winding creek through a narrow tunnel fairway, Koling birdied six of the next eight holes. He finished first in strokes gained tee-to-green at 8.54, according to UDisc, and was 2-for-2 from circle 2 in putting.

White was steady throughout, including a 100% scramble rate and 100% from C1X.

The duo edged out early clubhouse leader Joel Freeman, who turned in a 9-under 53. Moments after finishing his round, Freeman worked with a card mate on a form issue that had been hindering him as well and something that he worked on this offseason.

“It feels like a long time coming,” Freeman said. “I worked a ton on my backhand form this winter. I had a big rounding issue and fixing that has allowed me to hit gaps way better than before. The putt was clicking today so that helps, too.

“I feel like I’ve got a great game for the woods. I think that has a lot to do with the fact that I have a creative mind so I feel like I do a great job of visualizing those shots that might be harder for other players.”

Freeman hit the gaps on Friday, finished with 78% clip in fairway hits.

Chris Dickerson finished strong to make Saturday's lead card. Photo: Hayden Henry / PDGA

Later in the day, Chris Dickerson joined the mix at 9-under as well. Dickerson, who is known for his prowess in the woods, was 5-under after the front nine and birdied five of the final six holes.

Like the fairways throughout the punishing Dogwood track, the leaderboard is tight.

Ten players find themselves within four strokes of the lead entering moving day on Saturday.

Matt Bell did Matt Bell things from circle 2, connecting on two 60-foot putts and two 49-foot putts for an 8-under 54 to lead the chase card.

Bell will be joined by James Conrad, Matt Orum and Ricky Wysocki, on the chase card. Calvin Heimburg is also in that grouping tied for sixth at 7-under.

Garrett Gurthie, Paul McBeth, Emerson Keith and Thomas Gilbert carded 6-under 56s in the opening round.

Live coverage kicks off on the Disc Golf Network at 1:30 p.m. CT.