| Cromwell,
Conn, 2nd July 1998 -
Pete Morgan, who had to qualify to make the field, birdied
his last hole Thursday for a 6-under-par 64 and a one-stroke lead in the first
round of the Greater Hartford Open. Morgan,
35, has played mostly mini-tours the past 10 years, opened his round with three
straight birdies. The Harwich, Mass. native who lives in the Tampa, Fla., area
shot a 69 Monday to earn a spot in the field. Hartford
is only his fourth PGA Tour event since turning pro in 1989. Casey
Martin, playing his first tour event after suing for the right to use a cart in
competition, had a 1-over 71. Morgan,
who started on the back nine, came to the 406-yard par-4 No. 9 sharing the lead
with Kenny Perry and Scott Hoch. Morgan's 15-foot birdie putt gave him
a 64 and a one-shot lead. "I
knew where I stood. I don't have very many opportunities like this," Morgan
said. "I was trying to get to six (under) and trying not to make a bogey
at the same time." In
fact, he made no bogeys in a round highlighted by a 30-foot chip for birdie on
No. 11. While
Morgan played in relative obscurity, Martin drew one of the largest galleries
of the day. Martin, who plays on the Nike Tour, got a spot in the field this week
through a sponsor's exemption. Martin,
who also started on the back, was 1-under through five holes but got into trouble
when he tried to drive the 296-yard 15th hole. He took a bogey to fall back to
even-par and had two more bogeys the rest of the way against one birdie. "I
know I can play a lot better," Martin said. "I just hope it shows up
here tomorrow or in the next couple of days." Perry,
coming off a three-week layoff, started his round with a birdie on No. 10, the
tightest driving hole on the 6,820-yard course. He made the turn with a 4-under
31 and birdied Nos. 1-2 to reach 6-under. "I
kind of ran out of gas" after that and he bogeyed the next two holes. "Basically,
I think I sat on my duff for three weeks. I kind of got out of the routine a little
bit. I mentally got tired. I think it got to me physically," Perry said.
He wolfed down
a snack, righted himself and picked up two more birdies. Hoch,
who had seven birdies, took his two bogeys after finding sand traps that were
left thick and moist after some 5 inches of rain earlier in the week. "The
course is in excellent shape," Hoch said. "I think the only part that's
iffy right now are the bunkers. The rain collects in the bunkers."
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