Alberto Giannone, a native of Argentina playing his first year on the Senior PGA
Tour, shot an 8-under 64 today and held a one-stroke lead over Bud Allin in the
Bank One Championship.
Giannone, who worked as a postman and a newspaper delivery man in Argentina, had
never been to the United States before finishing third at the tour's qualifying
school in December. He does not speak much English and relies on wife, Alexandra,
to interpret for him.
He showed his comfort level in the United States is rising with the impressive
first round at Bent Tree Country Club in Dallas.
Giannone, who entered the tournament ranked 78th on the senior tour in putting,
needed just 20 putts. He had birdies on six of the first seven holes and made
the turn in 6-under 30 on the way to his best round of the year.
"He
was confident because of the pro-am and because of the greens," said Alexandra,
who is also his caddie.
"He
played well in the pro-am which gave him confidence and the greens here are very
similar to Argentina. He knows the type of grass and the speed of the green."
Allin's best round
of the year left him one stroke ahead of Jim Colbert, Dale Douglass and Dana Quigley.
Allin had seven
birdies but still didn't give himself much of a chance over the weekend.
"I had a good round today,
but I guarantee I'm not going to win," said Allin, who won the 1974 Byron Nelson
Classic across the street at Preston Trail Country Club. "You don't shoot the
scores I've been shooting all year and think you're going to win. If I thought
that they would lock me up."
Allin played with a sandal on one foot and a golf shoe on the other after an inflamed
nerve between two toes on his left foot made walking uncomfortable.
Tom Watson, who finished tied for 22nd in his senior debut in Indianapolis last
week, had an opening 67 in his first event against the tour's big guns. Hale Irwin,
Bruce Fleisher, Allen Doyle and Larry Nelson - the top four players on the money
list - did not play last week.
Watson fared better than all of them, however, as Fleisher had a 69, Irwin and
Doyle 71s and Nelson a 72.
"The
way I played last week, the LPGA would have whipped my butt," Watson said. "I
had a lot of events to go to last week and wanted to do everything right. This
week I didn't have as many events to go to and felt less anxious."
Players and fans observed a moment of silence on the first tee for victims of
the Wedgwood Baptist Church shooting in Fort Worth. Players wore white and blue
ribbons in memory of the victims and a banner that read "Wedgwood Baptist Church,
Our Prayers Are With You" hung behind the 10th tee. Players and fans were asked
to sign the banner, which will be presented to members of the church after the
tournament is over.
