Robert Gamez leads after opening 62

Robert Gamez shot an 8-under 62 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead over Houston-area resident Jeff Maggert after the first round of the Texas Open.

``That's a good round, but I have to keep it going,'' Gamez said. ``That's been my problem in the past.''

Maggert's 63 capped a day where many of the Texas players kept an eye on the weather as Hurricane Rita approached the Texas coast.

He flew his wife and children -- including year-old twins -- into town early Friday on a charter flight from The Woodlands airport near his home.

``Getting my wife and kids here put my mind at ease after going back and forth over the situation the past couple of days. I'm counting my blessings,'' Maggert said. ``Part of the problem I've had for the last two years is trying too hard, but today my mind wasn't holding me back because I was so happy my family was here.''

Gamez, winless since taking two events as a rookie in 1990, birdied eight of the first 16 holes in his bogey-free round on the LaCantera Golf Club's Resort Course. Playing in one of the early groups, he made a 30-foot birdie putt on No. 8, chipped in from 80 feet for a birdie on No. 9 and holed a 38-foot putt on No. 11.

``We all know there's a storm coming possibly on Saturday, and you never know what's going to happen with that,'' Gamez said. ``It's good to get a lead and hold it in case we have to wait around on the rain.''

Woody Austin and John Senden matched Maggert with 63s, and Phillip Price, Ted Purdy, David Hearn and Nick Watney opened with 64s. Purdy played the front-nine in 6-under 29 and was even par on the back nine.

Steve Elkington, another Houston-area resident withdrew before the round to return to Houston to help his family flee the city.

K.J. Choi (71) also lives in The Woodlands. His wife and kids were en route to San Antonio on Thursday night.

``They're making me feel more comfortable to have them here,'' he said. ``I have a friend working over my house and hopefully we'll have no problems. It's a risk to be in Houston now and I didn't want to take that risk with my family.''

Defending champion Bart Bryant opened with a 65. He won his first PGA Tour title last year at LaCantera, shooting a course-record 60 in the third round en route to a three-stroke victory over Patrick Sheehan.

``Obviously, I have a lot of good memories here,'' said Bryant, who won the Memorial in early June for his second tour title. ``Even though I don't have a lot of experience defending titles it's good to come back and play a course you have a good feeling for.''

Aaron Baddeley also was three strokes back at 65 along with Larry Mize, Brendan Jones, Mark Wilson, Rod Pampling, Olin Browne, Harrison Frazar, Brad Lardon, John E. Morgan and Bob Heintz.

Tommy Armour III, the 2003 winner with a tour-record 26-under 254 total, shot a 72.

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