Fryatt tied for lead with two others

At the close of Thursday's first round at the 1999 Nike Greensboro Open at Sedgefield Country Club, there was a three-way tie for the lead, which included last week's champion Edward Fryatt, along with Dave Rummells and Mike Grob. There were three players one stroke behind and 10 players just two strokes back.

As for Fryatt, his first comment upon arriving at the media center was "I like having to come in here." On a day in which his goal was just to post a good round, Fryatt accomplished that and a little more.

"I played the back nine (his first nine) like I was in a trance and all I was trying to do was confirm what I did last week," said Fryatt.

Once again, it was Fryatt's putter that remained hot, making five birdie putts of 12 feet or more. If Fryatt was to hold on and win the event, he would be just the third player in Nike Tour history t win back-to-back events.

For Rummells, much of his success Thursday came from making more putts than he has "in the last five years." Two weeks ago, Rummells switched to the long putter for good after finding that when playing with a conventional putter he was not as competitive.

"If you don't putt well out here, you will miss the cut and that has been what I have been doing the last five years," said Rummells. He tried a cross-handed grip and was not successful and so he tried long putter earlier in the year, but gave it up. "Putting is the toughest part of this game to teach, confidence is the key," remarked Rummells.

Rummells showed confidence in his putting, making six birdies and one eagle on his way to a six-under-par 64, in which he tied the Nike Tour record for nine holes with a 29 on the back nine. With the long putter Rummells was able to make four putts of eight feet or longer.

The key to Grob's success was an up and down par save on the first hole.

"I missed the green on the first hole and was able to to get up- and-down and then came back to birdie the second hole," said Grob.

TSN