Roundup
Wilson in Comfort Zone, Fires 66
Dean Wilson's time away from the golf course was well-spent; after the first round of the Zurich Classic, Wilson has a one-stroke lead.
(Chris Graythen - AP)
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Friday, March 28, 2008; Page E06
Refreshed after a couple of weeks off, Dean Wilson birdied three of the last four holes in windy conditions yesterday for a 6-under-par 66 and a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Classic of New Orleans in Avondale, La.
Wilson played eight straight tournaments before taking the break.
"I've struggled a little bit," Wilson said. "I took a couple weeks off and just went home and tried to clear my brain and just play golf rather than maybe sit on the range and fiddle with my swing. I think that helped."
Briny Baird, Peter Lonard and Chez Reavie opened with 67s.
Baird got to 6 under with an eagle on the par-4 sixth and a birdie on the par-5 seventh, but finished with a bogey on No. 9 to drop back to 5 under.
On the sixth, he holed out from 208 yards with a 5-wood.
"To be honest with you, I hit it just a touch thin, but it was exactly what the shot called for," Baird said. "Being a little thin it stays under the wind a little bit better."
Steve Elkington, Vaughn Taylor, Jay Williamson, Cameron Beckman and John Mallinger opened with 68s, Woody Austin topped a group at 69 and defending champion Nick Watney had a 71 at TPC Louisiana.
¿ LPGA TOUR: Angela Stanford shot a career-best 10-under 62 to break the Prospector Course record and take a three-stroke lead over defending champion Lorena Ochoa at the Safeway International in Superstition Mountain, Ariz.
Stanford, the 2003 ShopRite LPGA Tour Classic winner, had a bogey-free round at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club. She had six birdies in a front-nine 30 and birdied the final two holes for a back-nine 32.
It all happened so slowly," Stanford said. "I'm still in a fog. It's just one of those days you can't even get in your own way."
¿ EUROPEAN PGA TOUR: Lee Westwood shot a 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead at the Andalucia Open in Puerto Banus, Spain.
The event's defending champion sank an 18-foot birdie putt on the first hole and then picked up five more birdies through the 10th at the Aloha Golf Club.
"I didn't make too many mistakes and my course management was good," Westwood said.
