Hubbard’s bold finish gives him a 1-shot lead in Texas Open

SAN ANTONIO — Mark Hubbard was bold all the way to the end, taking on a creek at the par-5 18th and converting his sixth birdie over his final eight holes Thursday to post a 7-under 65 at dark for one-shot lead in the storm-delayed opening round at the Valero Texas Open. Hubbard broke out of six-way tie for the lead that included Tony Finau, among dozens of players hopeful of a win to get into the Masters next week. He was in the middle of the pack when Hubbard began his remarkable finishing kick on the Oaks course at the TPC San Antonio.

He made a 25-foot birdie putt sandwiched between a pair of birdies from the 6-foot range. He got up-and-down on the par-5 14th for a fourth straight birdie. He also hit it tight to 6 feet for birdie on the par-3 16th.

And moments before the horn sounded to stop play, Hubbard drilled a fairway metal from the rough over the winding creek in front of the green about 30 yards short of the flag. He pitched to 3 feet for his last birdie. The round was delayed about 90 minutes at the start because of dangerous weather in the area, with 24 players having to complete the round Friday morning.

That shouldn’t affect the timing of the second round. Finau is trying to pull his game together, falling to No. 107 in the world.