Brian Watts takes first day honours

Brian Watts fired an eight-under-par 64 on Thursday to lead the Reno-Tahoe Open by one shot over Edward Fryatt.

Jerry Kelly, Mark O'Meara, David Berganio and Tim Herron share third place at minus-six.

Watts flew out of the gates with birdies at his first three holes, including a two-footer at the third after a nine-iron approach shot. He added two birdies in his next four holes to go out at five-under 31.

The 1998 British Open runner-up birdied the 10th and 14th, then finished with a birdie at No. 17 to grab the lead at eight-under-par 64.

"I drove the ball well and hit some good iron shots," said Watts, who is winless in his PGA Tour career. "I converted the putts and my wedge shots were good."

Watts, who underwent hip surgery, is playing only his 12th tournament of the 2001 campaign. He has two top-10s already and twice finished in the top-15, giving him more than his total in 2000.

"I have been playing pretty decent," said Watts. "Unless you are Tiger you really can't predict how you are going to play. Guys like me just never know."

Fryatt opened on the second nine at Montreux Golf & Country Club and broke into red figures early with a pair of birdies at 10 and 11. Just as quickly as he got the two birdies, he gave the two strokes back with bogeys at 12 and 13.

Fryatt closed his first nine with two birdies in his last three holes and racked up five birdies on his second nine to get within one of the lead.

"I just started to do the little things better," said Fryatt. "I have been hitting the ball in the fairways the last couple of weeks. The key is to hit as many fairways as possible and play smart."

Joel Edwards, Kaname Yokoo, David Morland IV, Stephen Allan, Robin Freeman and Steve Flesch share seventh place at five-under 67.

Many of the top stars on the PGA Tour are at the NEC Invitational, an event that features an elite field based on appearances at the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup.

Bryce Molder, a four-time All American at Georgia Tech, posted a two-under 70 Thursday in his professional debut.

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page