Mike Brisky shot an eight-under-par 64 at the Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic in Madison, including eight birdies in one 11hole stretch, and shared the first round lead with tour rookie Craig Kanada. "If your irons are good, you can score today," said Brisky. "The greens being so soft encourages good play. It brings the field together, and doesn't really separate good players from bad putters."
Of the 153 players who teed off on the 7,157-yard Annandale Golf Club, 100 broke par and 59 shot in the 60s.
Willie Wood, defending his only USPGA victory, shot a 68 and was among 39 players within four shots of the lead.
Deposit Guaranty Classic, Madison, Mis- sissippi (first round scores, USA unless stated): 64 - M Brisky, C Kanada; 65 - D Pooley, J P Hayes; 66 - W Austin, J Sindelar, S Kendall, B Chamblee, M Christie, D Berganio, S Jurgensen; 67 - D Tewell, D Peoples, D Toms, D Ogrin, J Adams, J H Horgan, J O'Keefe, B Wadkins, H Sutton, S Verplank, B Claar, S McRoy
Michele Redman went on a birdie binge on Wykagyl Country Club's front nine - the harder half of the course for almost everyone else - and finished with a seven-under-par 64 to take the first-round lead at the JAL Big Apple Classic in New York.
Redman, without a win in six years on the USLPGA tour, led Karrie Webb, Cindy Schreyer and Helen Alfredsson by two strokes. Maggie Will-Helpin was another stroke back.
Redman's 64 was the best opening round in the history of the eight-year-old event and she just missed tying the tournament record of 63 set by Betsy King in 1990.
"It could have been a lot better," said Redman. "I had a couple of putts I couldn't believe didn't go in."
JAL Big Apple Classic, New York. (first round scores (US unless stated): 64 - M Redman; 66 - C Schreyer, K Webb (Aus), H Alfredsson (Swe); 67 - M Will-Halpin; 68 - H Stacy, B Mucha, M McGeorge, C Johnson, A Benz, E Dahllof (Swe); 69 - T Myers, S Little (SA), R Jones, T Barrett, J Piers, R Hetherington, D Ammaccapane.