US trio lead way in Vegas

Scotland's Baird just one shot back of the leaders

Last updated: 16th October 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

US trio lead way in Vegas

Pernice Jnr: share of the lead

First-round leaderboard:
(US unless stated)
T Pernice Jnr -9
T Matteson -9
S Levin -9
M Laird (Sco) -8
B Heintz -8

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American trio Tom Pernice Jnr, Troy Matterson and Spencer Levin all shot opening rounds of 62 to claim a share of the lead after the first day of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

It was 50-year-old Pernice who posted the clubhouse target at nine-under-par with a bogey-free round.

Pernice, who won on the Champions Tour last month, was then joined by 2006 champion Matterson whose round included ten birdies and just a single bogey.

Levin, 25, also joined the party after firing seven birdies and an eagle at the par-five 16th and the threesome enjoy a one-stroke advantage over another American, Bob Heintz, and Scotland's Martin Laird.

Pernice was delighted with his efforts and stated after his round: "I got off to a really good start, which was nice, and continued to have a really good round.

"Good, quality iron shots first really set it up. The iron shots really were the key. And the conditions are obviously perfect here."

Matteson admitted to being slightly frustrated by his solitary bogey at the 17th, but was still pleased to have put himself in contention at the tournament at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas once again.

"When you've had nine birdies to that point it's a little easier when you make a mistake," he explained.

Laird - the only non-US player in the top 12 - also made just a single birdie over the course of his first 18 holes, his coming at the fourth.

Behind the Scot at seven-under are local favourite Scott Piercy and three-time Las Vegas winner Jim Furyk.

The highest-ranked player in the field, Furyk bounced back from making a bogey at his opening hole, the tenth, with a string of birdies to finish with a 64.

The 39-year-old said: "It was a slow start, but I don't know if it was a rough start. You just have to stay patient, a lot of it is your mental frame."

Tim Petrovic, Jeff Klauk, Kirk Triplett, Briny Baird and Robert Garrigus finished the opening round at six under par, while England's Greg Owen, Swede Freddie Jacobson and Alex Cejka of Germany are amongst a group of 13 players at five-under.

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