Trio top opening day leaderboard

Hidemichi Tanaka saved par after hitting his tee shot into the water on No. 17 and finished with a 6-under 66 to share the lead after the first round of the Southern Farm Bureau Classic on Thursday.

Carlos Franco shot a bogey-free round and John Huston made a late charge on the 7,199-yard course at Annandale Golf Club to tie Tanaka.

It was Franco's best round in five months.

"Six under par. Long time, no see," he said.

Huston survived three bogeys and birdied his final two holes, catching the leaders with a downhill 15-footer that drew cheers from the modest gallery at 18.

"I putted well," he said. "That really helped me because the greens were getting pretty stressed out late in the day."

Patrick Sheehan and David Edwards were at 67 and six golfers were two strokes behind the pace.

Tanaka, who is in his second season on the PGA Tour, has been playing his best golf over the last five weeks. The 32-year-old from Japan has finished in the top six in three of his last five tournaments.

He said he didn't know why he was playing so well lately, but he is much more comfortable on tour this season.

"Playing from last year, I know the level of the PGA Tour," he said.

Tanaka has 15 international victories to his credit, but he has had to tone down his aggressive style since moving to the PGA Tour.

"I know being patient is important," he said.

Tanaka packs a decent punch off the tee for a guy who stands just 5-foot-6 and weighs 135 pounds. He said in Japan he is considered a long hitter, but compared to PGA Tour players he's about average.

"I don't worry about others hitting the ball farther," he said.

Tanaka started his opening round with a bogey, but still shot 6 under on the front nine, thanks to five birdies and an eagle on the par-5, 522-yard fifth hole.

"Even though the score was good, I didn't think I played well on the front nine," he said.

Tanaka sandwiched a birdie between bogeys on 14 and 16, and looked like he was ready to drop at least one more stroke when his 3-wood off the tee splashed on the par-4, 409-yard 17th for a one-stroke penalty.

He was so concerned with the left rough he went way right and into the water.

"It was just a missed shot," Tanaka said through an interpreter with a wide smile and a chuckle.

But his second shot from 150 yards was a beauty and he made the 6-footer for par.

"That was an important hole," he said.

It is the sixth time this season Tanaka has had at least a share of the lead after the first round.

Franco played a steady round on a cool and windy morning, despite feeling the effects of allergies.

"My energy was missing," said the 38-year-old from Paraguay, who closed his round with a birdie on 18.

Huston began his day by driving into the lip of the bunker, then two-putting for bogey.

"It seemed like it was going to be a rough day," he said. "When I made eagle on 7 that really got me going."

Among the notables, two-time Masters champion and European Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer shot a 1-under 71 and U.S. Ryder Cup captain Hal Sutton had a 72.

Defending champion Luke Donald shot a 3-under 69.

Steve Lowery, who won this tournament the last time he played it in 2000, continued to struggle this season with a 74.

John Daly had three double bogeys and was 9 over at one point. He rallied to finish with a 76.

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