With very different 64s, Haas and Driscoll share Xerox lead  PGA TOUR Staff ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Hunter Haas and James Driscoll posted matching 6-under 64s on Thursday to take a one-shot lead over Josh Williams at the $600,000 Xerox Classic, the 23rd of 32 official events on the Nationwide Tour.  Hunter Haas is on top of a first-round leaderboard for the second time this season. (Jim Rogash/WireImage)
Haas and Driscoll both completed their work prior to a suspension of play due to a dangerous weather situation at 4:09 p.m. Once the weather threat dissipated, play resumed at 5:35 p.m., with all of the players managing to get their rounds completed before darkness settled in. While both leaders eagled the par-5 third hole -- Driscoll thanks to a perfectly executed 7-iron from 200 yards to seven feet and Haas with a 6-iron from 230 yards to 12 feet -- their rounds couldn't have been more different. Driscoll was the model of consistency with four birdies and an eagle, while Haas was on a rollercoaster ride with an eagle, seven birdies and three bogeys. "I hit a lot of greens and fairways," said Driscoll, who managed to find 15 of 18 greens in regulation. "It was a solid round. It is a good start, but it only means something if you have a good finish." Haas seemed destined to begin the tournament poorly, but a 3-under-par 32 on his opening nine holes proved otherwise. "I was on the range this morning and my tempo was not very good," said Haas, who hit 12 of 14 fairways and 12 of 18 greens in regulation. "But I managed to keep the ball in the fairway. I hit a bunch of good putts today that went in ... but I missed a couple, too." Haas was one of a nearly unanimous group of players offering praise for the par-70 Irondequoit Country Club, which borders the famed Oak Hill Country Club. The Donald Ross-designed course -- which features various extremely undulated fairways -- plays as the shortest on the Nationwide Tour at 6,720 yards, but still managed to rank as the eighth toughest course on Tour a year ago. "A good shot is rewarded and a bad shot is penalized at this course," said Haas. "I like the course. It has a lot of character ... stuff you don't normally see." Driscoll agreed, adding "It can be really tricky ... and tough to get it close from these fairways. Pars will be hard to come by this week. There are some birdie holes, but not many." Brock Mackenzie sits two shots behind the co-leaders after a bogey-free 4-under 66. The 26-year-old Oregon native and Seattle, Wash., resident found the conditions very similar to what he is used back at home. "This course sets up great for me," said Mackenzie. "It is a good ball-striker's golf course. I'm definitely in a comfort zone here. It reminds me of courses in the Northwest. Also, anytime you can play a Donald Ross course in competition is awesome." Mark Wiebe headlines a group of six players who posted 3-under-par 67s. First-Round News & Notes: This marks the third time in James Driscoll's career that he has held at least a share of the first-round lead (tied for 11th at the 2007 Legend Financial Group Classic and tied for sixth at the 2002 Richmond Open). Hunter Haas' only other 18-hole lead came earlier this season at the Movistar Panama Championship, where he eventually finished runner-up to Miguel Carballo. ... Haas and Driscoll are hoping for better luck than the previous leaders after 18 holes this season. Through the first 22 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 four bogey-free rounds on Thursday: James Driscoll (64), Brock Mackenzie (66), Mark Wiebe (67) and Omar Uresti (69). ... 2005 Xerox Classic champion Rick Price opened with a 1-under-par 69. ... The Xerox Classic is one of 13 events on the 2007 schedule featuring a purse of at least $600,000. ... Sunday's winner will take home $108,000 and move a step closer to finishing among "The 25" who will receive their PGA TOUR card for the 2008 campaign. |
PGATOUR.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network