Local favourite leads by one

Chad Campbell, the local favorite who lives 35 miles from the Club at Mission Dorado, fired an eight-under-par 64 on Thursday to lead the Buy.com Permian Basin Open by one shot.

Jeff Sanday, Rod Pampling, Todd Barranger, Tom Carter and Greg Bruckner share second place at minus-seven.

The first round was actually suspended due to inclement weather with only the final group on the course. They will come back Friday morning to putt out on their 18th hole, the ninth at Mission Dorado.

Campbell opened with a 15-foot birdie at No. 1 and followed with 20-foot birdie at three. He later two-putted from 50 feet on the par-five seventh for a front-nine 33.

The 27-year-old Buy.com Richmond Open champion took advantage of his length and eagled both of the par-fives on the second nine. He dropped a nine-iron to 10 feet at the last hole to set up birdie and give him the outright lead.

"You know scores are going to be low here," said Campbell. "It was nice out here today. There wasn't much wind and greens are pretty soft. Obviously I can count a few that I left out there but I also made my share."

Campbell spoke of the pressures of playing in front of 30 friends and family.

"It's harder to play here than out of town," said Campbell, who ranks third on the Buy.com Tour money list. "You don't want to let anybody down. Expectations are definitely higher because you want to play well in front of the home crowd."

Casey Martin is part of a group of 14 that is knotted in seventh at six- under par. He has made only six of 15 cuts this season and has not finished higher than a tie for 34th.

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