Ames takes first round lead

You can't blame Stephen Ames for wanting to forget about the sixth hole at La Cantera Golf Club.

After hitting the ball over the green, he three-putted for a double bogey that threatened to derail his day.

Fortunately for Ames, he got back on track immediately with three consecutive birdies to shoot an 8-under 64 today for a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Texas Open.

"I hit the ball really good, hit it close a lot of times. The putts are coming off more solid," Ames said. "We'll see if it works for the next three days. Three more 64s would be nice."

Rich Beem and Charles Raulerson were one stroke back with a 65, and Brent Geiberger, Sandy Lyle and Perry Moss were at 6 under with a 66. Six players were one more stroke back at 5 under.

Hal Sutton, last year's champion, is not playing the Texas Open because he is competing in the Ryder Cup this weekend in Brookline, Mass. Bob Estes, the first alternate for the U.S. Ryder Cup team, shot a 1-under 71 on Thursday at the San Antonio tournament.

The 72-hole event resumes Friday.

Ames played the back nine first and began with a bogey on the par-5 No. 10, where he three-putted from 12 feet. He followed with four consecutive birdies to move to 4-under at the turn.

On the par-3 No. 6, it looked like Ames' good day would quickly become mediocre.

"We'll just take the sixth hole out all together," Ames said with a laugh. "I made a good recovery. I had it at, like, 20 feet, then three-putted."

Ames birdied each of the last three holes and sunk his longest putt of the day -- a 30-footer -- on the par-4 eighth.

Ames, a native of Trinidad who lives in Canada, had to miss some tournaments early in the year because of visa problems. He was 125th on the PGA Tour money list through 13 events before the Texas Open.

His persistent problems with work visas have been an obstacle to his progress on the PGA Tour, he said, declining to discuss specifics of the visa troubles.

"I have visa problems. That's it," he said. "It's been tough getting started (this year). I finally feel like I'm getting into my zone now."

The winner of the $2 million Texas Open, sponsored by Westin, receives $360,000. This is the fifth year the tournament has been held at the par-72, 7,001-yard La Cantera Golf Club on the edge of the Texas Hill Country.

Players benefited from favourable weather conditions Thursday, as mild temperatures and winds of about 5 to 10 mph prevailed.

"If the wind starts blowing, it'll get tough," Beem said. "Right now, there's no wind and guys are taking advantage of it."

Beem started his round with a birdie on the first hole, then bogeyed the second and fourth, before making eight birdies the rest of the way.

Raulerson, successful on the Nike Tour last year, had one bogey and eight birdies on his way to the tie for second-place position.

Both players said they were unfamiliar with the course before Thursday. Ames also was playing the tournament at La Cantera for the first time.

Beem first played La Cantera on Tuesday. Raulerson had not played the course until the tournament started, although he walked the course earlier in the week and took precise notes about slopes and greens and club selection.

It's a tactic he's relied on a lot lately.

"I've played so many tournaments in a row," Raulerson said. "I've been just relaxing on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, taking good notes."