On a PGA TOUR break, McLachlin leads in West Virginia  PGA TOUR Staff BRIDGEPORT, W. Va. -- Parker McLachlin wasted little time in reacquainting himself with the Nationwide Tour, firing a 9-under 63 to surge into the lead after the first day of the darkness-delayed National Mining Association Pete Dye Classic presented by Northrop Grumman.  Parker McLachlin holds a first-round lead for the first time in his PGA TOUR or Nationwide Tour career. (Stan Badz/PGA TOUR/WireImage)
The 2007 PGA TOUR rookie scattered nine birdies and no bogeys around the par-72 Pete Dye Golf Club on Thursday to take a two-stroke advantage over Scott Parel and David Hearn. "I made about three 30-foot putts for birdie and that always helps the scorecard," said McLachlin, referring to putts on Nos. 4, 5 and 18. "Everything was going right. I hit the ball well, put it on the greens and made the putts. I didn't want it to end. It seemed so easy." Easy has not been the word the 28-year-old native of Honolulu would describe his rookie season so far. While not a disaster, McLachlin hasn't lived up to his own expectations -- recently completing the regular season of the PGA TOUR ranked No. 158 in the FedExCup point standings and missing out on being among the 144 players who qualified for the first-ever PGA TOUR Playoffs. "The essence of the game is still hitting fairways and greens and making putts," said McLachlin, who hit 12 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens in regulation during the opening round. "I may have lost some of that this year playing the TOUR for the first time. Everything is so magnified out there and I haven't handled it as well as I had hoped." Just as he successfully used the PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament as a second chance after just missing his TOUR card with a 29th place finish on the 2006 Nationwide Tour money list, McLachlin is looking forward to the seven-event Fall Finish as a chance to secure his card for 2008. "I've got seven events left out on TOUR to get my card," said McLachlin, who has made 10 of 21 cuts this season with $303,032 in earnings. "I'm using this week as a stepping stone to put together a good showing in the Fall Finish. It is one of those things where if you have to go to q-school, you go. But you don't put all of your energy into thinking about it. It is nice to have been successful at q-school and having that in my back pocket to be able to recall." After playing on unfamiliar golf courses each week in 2007, McLachlin found the familiarity of the Pete Dye Golf Club to his liking on Thursday. "It is reassuring to come to a golf course where you are familiar with the course," said McLachlin, who missed the cut here a year ago. "I didn't have that luxury this year since I was playing the courses for the first time." In addition to the surroundings, McLachlin also pointed to recent lessons with Peter Kostis as a turning point in his improved play. "Really since the U.S. Open, I've been working really hard on my game," said McLachlin, who posted his best finish at the AT&T Classic (a tie for 16th). "I've been working with Peter and we've changed a few things with my set-up. The state of my game is really coming around. Even though I missed the cut, last week was the first week I've felt like I could win out there." The good start by Augusta, Ga., native Parel is a continuation of a career-best tied for fourth-place finish last week at the Xerox Classic. Like McLachlin, Parel posted no bogeys on his scorecard. "Today was a carryover from last week," said Parel. "It is a game of momentum. I hit every fairway and didn't have to chip the ball. You are not going to play your best forever, so you have to take advantage of it when you are playing good. Obviously I feel good about the way I'm playing right now." First-Round News & Notes: There was a 40-minute delay to the beginning of play due to fog. Play was suspended due to darkness at 8:06 p.m. The 14 players left on the course will be back in position at 8:00 a.m. Friday, with the second round to begin as scheduled at 7:30 a.m. ... This marks the first time in Parker McLachlin's career that he has held the lead after a round in a Nationwide Tour or PGA TOUR event. ... Through the first 23 events, Martin Laird (Athens Regional Foundation Classic) and Kyle Thompson (Rex Hospital Open) are the only first-round leaders to go on to victory. ... There were three bogey-free rounds on Thursday: Parker McLachlin (63), Scott Parel (65) and David Hearn (65). ... 2006 NMA Pete Dye Classic champion Jason Enloe opened with a 4-under 68. ... David Sanchez withdrew during the round, while Tom Byrum and Tom Scherrer withdrew following their first round. ... The NMA Pete Dye Classic is one of 13 events featuring a purse of at least $600,000. Sunday's winner will take home $108,000 and move a step closer to earning a 2008 PGA TOUR card as a result of finishing among The 25. |
