Jacobsen takes opening honours with 63

Peter Jacobsen birdied his final hole to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Greensboro Classic on Thursday.

The 49-year-old American birdied the ninth, his last of the day, for a nine-under-par 63 at Forest Oaks Country Club.

Stephen Ames of Trinidad and Tobago was a shot behind on 64.

World number seven David Toms and Japan's Shigeki Maruyama were tied for third after each shot a seven-under-par 65.

England's John Morgan, a rookie on the PGA Tour, was a further stroke behind in a fifth-place tie with Jonathan Byrd, Dicky Pride and Australian Paul Gow.

Having started the season trying to get into shape for the 2004 Champions Tour, Jacobsen was pleased that he might be able to claim his second PGA Tour title of the year on Sunday.

"I feel like I'm swinging pretty well," said Jacobsen, who won the Greater Hartford Open in July.

"I've been working hard on my game. I guess after having been out here on tour so long, I know you can play a good first round and not even be in contention come the weekend.

"So the key for me tomorrow is to go out and put another good round on top of the 63 and put myself in contention for the weekend."

Jacobsen scored six consecutive birdies beginning at the 10th.

He made the turn in six-under 30. After reaching nine-under, Jacobsen bogeyed the par-three eighth but made a birdie at the par-five ninth after putting his drive in a fairway bunker.

He also felt the course, which was redesigned by fellow tour professional Davis Love III, suited his style.

"The golf course is more like a roller coaster ride, some holes are easy, some holes are hard, back and forth, back and forth, and that's exciting to a golfer," Jacobsen said.

"Nobody wants to play the same hole over and over again. It gets dull.

"Forest Oaks is anything but dull now."

World number four Love, however, only managed a two-under 70.

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