Pavin takes opening day honours with 62

Corey Pavin posted his best score for 14 years, firing an eight-under-par 62 to take a commanding three-shot lead after the first round of the inaugural $4.2 million Buick Championship on Thursday.

The highlight of Pavin's round at the TPC at River Highland was an eagle two at the second where he holed out with a wedge from 121 yards. He also chipped in for a birdie from off the 18th green to match his 62 at the 1990 Texas Open.

Matt Weibring, son of the experienced DA Weibring, put together his best round on the PGA Tour with a five-under 65 to tie for second place with Bob Burns.

David Peoples, Fred Funk, Craig Bowden, Jerry Kelly and Jason Dufner shot 66s to share fourth position.

Loren Roberts, Zach Johnson, Tag Ridings, Scott Simpson, Matt Gogel, Tim Wilkinson and Nick Price of Zimbabwe were five strokes off the lead on 67.

Former Ryder Cup player Pavin has won 14 times on the tour but is without a victory since the 1996 Colonial. Since then, the 44-year-old American has played in 196 events without finishing higher than fifth.

"I've done more things good this year than I have for quite a few years but hopefully there's a lot more good stuff in there besides what I've done so far," Pavin told reporters.

"I'd like to keep improving...that's my goal, to just play the best I can, play up to my potential.

"I don't know what my potential is right now but I'm going to do the best I can to figure out what that is and attain it."

Pavin has featured in 17 tournaments this year, with mixed results.

He has been in the top 10 once, at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, and missed the halfway cut four times. But he has finished in the top 15 in his last three events.

"It always helps to see some improvement in your own game certainly, and I have seen some this year," said Pavin, who is 85th on the money list.

"It does give me more confidence that things are going in the right direction. I've put a lot of hard work in."

The tournament has been renamed the Buick Championship this year, previously it was the Greater Hartford Open.

Pavin has fond memories of the TPC at River Highland, having had three top-four finishes here between 1991 and 1994.

"I've had good success (here) in the past and for some reason I play okay," he said. "It has a lot of good memories for me, which helps."

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