Eight-way tie matches Nationwide Tour's record for co-leaders  PGA TOUR Staff JUNCTION CITY, Ore. -- Jason Day, Roland Thatcher, Todd Fischer, Daniel Summerhays, Matthew Jones, Mike Heinen, Kelly Grunewald and Monday qualifier Alex Prugh matched the Nationwide Tour record for most players to share the first-round lead on Thursday as all eight shot matching 6-under-par 66s at the Oregon Classic presented by Kendall Automotive. The first-round matches the 2001 Ozarks Open for most players tied for the lead.  Teenage sensation Jason Day is in the thick of things at Shadow Hills. (Chris Condon/PGA TOUR/WireImage)
With one player finishing his round on the 18th hole and the other finishing on No. 9, Thatcher, the Nationwide Tour's leading-money winner, and Day, its youngest star, made eye contact and gave each other a smile from opposite fairways as both finished their morning rounds. In a tournament that boasts one of the strongest fields of the 2007 Nationwide Tour season, Thatcher and Day are the two highest-ranked players in the field. Thatcher has earned $386,254 with victories at the Cox Classic and the Peek'n Peak Classic. For the season, the Auburn University graduate has 13 top-25 finishes and has made the cut in 15 of his last 17 events. With one more victory, the 30-year-old from The Woodlands, Tex., would join Nick Flanagan as the second player this season to earn an instant three-win promotion to the PGA TOUR. "I'd take a 6 under round on this golf course any day, especially when it is this cold and damp," Thatcher said after playing his morning round in 50-degree weather. "I'm looking forward to coming out here tomorrow and maybe getting some warmer weather. I was home in Houston last week in 110 heat index, so today was a little different." The 19-year-old Day became the youngest player ever to win a PGA TOUR co-sanctioned event earlier this season at the Legend Financial Group Classic. In addition to his victory, the Australian has seven top-10 finishes and has earned more than $320,000 this season. "I'm normally a pretty slow starter. I play better on the weekends," Day said. "I've got myself into good position early, so that should help with three days left to play." Day and Thatcher showed their friendly rivalry with their wave and acknowledgement as each finished his round. While each has guaranteed himself a spot inside The 25 on the money list and earned his PGA TOUR card for the 2008 season, finishing No. 1 on the money list would mean a higher priority to get into more PGA TOUR events next year. "We were waiving at each other. We knew we were hanging around. I saw his name up on the leaderboard early on and I'm guessing he saw mine," Day said. "We're hoping we can catch him soon. He's a tremendous player." Thatcher said that, despite their two stellar seasons, they have yet to be grouped together. "Above all, I've got my eyes on him on the leaderboard and I know he has his eyes on me. So we have a little connection with that," Thatcher said. "It is a very healthy and friendly rivalry. I've got a lot of respect for his game. It's fun." Grunewald continued what has been a great week so far. On Tuesday, the 39-year-old Texan caught a 25-pound salmon here in Oregon. After reeling in the largest fish of his life, Grunewald took down Jeff Wood, the Tour's leader in driving distance, in a long-drive exhibition following Wednesday's pro-am. After re-gripping his clubs and putting a new putter in his bag on Thursday, Grunewald shot his lowest round since shooting 65 in July's Cox Classic, where he finished tied for eighth. "I like this course. I have good feelings coming here," Grunewald said. "It's fair. It's tough. The greens are fabulous. They are probably the best greens we play all year." Fischer currently ranks No. 62 on the money list. With a good finish, the winner of the 2002 Fort Smith Classic, move into the top 60 and earn a spot in the Nationwide Tour Championship at Barona Creek. Summerhays turned professional this season after winning the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational as an amateur. Since then, he has made five of six cuts and is exempt on the Nationwide Tour through the 2008 season. "I feel like turning professional and getting out here has me so much more prepared for next season," said the standout at Brigham Young University. "Having the exemption and a guaranteed place to play next year is much more important than the money I could have made if I had turned professional before winning." Monday qualifier Alex Prugh finished the day in the final group with a birdie on the 18th hole. Prugh, a standout at the University of Washington, is playing in his first Nationwide Tour event and his first event as a professional. First-Round News & Notes: Seven players shot bogey-free rounds on Thursday. ... The most players to share the first-round lead this season was five at the Showdown at Somerby. ... Kyle Riefers is the last player to win a Nationwide Tour event as a Monday Qualifier after his victory at the 2006 Chattanooga Classic. ... Of the first-round leaders, Thatcher, Day, Fischer and Heinen have either held or shared a first-round lead before in their Nationwide Tour careers. Copyright 2007 PGA.com. All rights reserved. |
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