Hulbert takes early 2 shot advantage

Mike Hulbert, ranked 214th on the PGA Tour money list, shot a 7-under-par 64 today to take a two-stroke lead over five golfers after the first round of the Tampa Bay Classic.

"That's as well as I've shot in a long time," Hulbert said. "It's nice. I just happened to get off to a good start and kept it going. That was the good thing, I kept it going today. I'm just trying to make mini-steps now and trying to improve."

Scott Gump, Bob Friend, John Huston, Steve Pate, and Carl Paulson were tied for second.

Hulbert, who earned just $47,466 in 32 previous events this season, hasn't won a PGA Tour event since 1991. He had a streak of 13 straight years ranked in the top 100 on the money list end after finishing 143rd last year.

"I've driven the ball poorly for two years," Hulbert said. "That's been the one-tenth that's been hurting me. They talk about putting, but you've still got to drive the ball in this day and age. I just lost my confidence, but I'm slowly getting it back."

Friend and Gump entered the tournament 165th and 169th respectively on the money list. The top 125 earn exemptions.

"I either have to win a golf tournament or finish second, so I'm going to go out there and play to win,'' Friend said. "I have absolutely nothing to lose. Hopefully, some good things will happen.''

Friend had just one bogey.

Gump closed out his round by making a 20-foot birdie putt.

"It's been a bizarre year, no question,'' Gump said. "Made some cuts. All the tournaments that I usually play well at, I haven't. It's quite strange. Just had no momentum."

Huston, who resides in the Palm Harbor area, has played the Copperhead Course at the Innisbrook Resort over 100 times.

"Anytime you have familiarity, it kind of gives you that sense of security," said Huston, who has been bothered by a bad back. "However, you still have to play."

Bob May, who lost a playoff to Tiger Woods at the PGA Championship, was among a group of eight golfers at 67.

"I'd love to win a PGA Tour event,'' May said. "I think as long as I keep on playing good and consistent golf, it will come. It's not something you can make happen. If you try to make it happen, you're just going to be waiting longer.''

Fred Couples, Kenny Perry, Mike Sposa, Lee Janzen, Tim Herron, Frank Lickliter, and Steve Lowery also had 67s.

Joe Ozaki withdrew after playing nine holes because of a bad back.

The tournament winner will receive $432,000 of the total purse of $2.4 million.

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