Texas Sports

Friday, October 6, 2000

San Antonio native included among five Michelob leaders

Beckman shares first round lead with Damron, Pate, Hayes and Murphy going into play today

Associated Press

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Robert Damron, who withdrew in frustration after the third round of the Michelob Championship two years ago, shot a 5-under-par 66 Thursday to grab a share of the first-round lead.
   "Traditionally I've had a lot of trouble reading putts here," Damron said. "Today, every putt seemed to do what I thought it would do."
   Damron needed only 26 putts, the last a 12-footer for birdie on the 18th hole, but said he couldn't explain why he putted so much better, or why he played so well after not even getting in a practice round.
   "I just kind of saw it and went with it," he said.
   Sean Murphy also shot a 66, capped by a 25-foot birdie putt on the ninth hole, which gave up only 12 birdies against 49 bogeys or worse.
   Murphy was 1 under at the turn, but said hitting a 2-iron within 3 feet on the par-3 second hole, his 11th hole, "kind of got me excited."
   He followed it up with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 third and an 8-foot birdie on the par-4 fourth on his way to a closing 3-under 32.
   For some, including defending champion Notah Begay III, the whole day was hard. Begay shot a 76, the worst first round for a defender here. And two-time winner David Duval, coming off a victory in last week's Buick Challenge, was 3 over after four holes before rallying for a 70.
   Steve Pate, J.P. Hayes and Cameron Beckman also finished with 66s.
   "I putted awesome," Beckman said after his 23-putt round, which included 30-footers for birdie three holes apart on the front side.
   "Basically I was trying to two-putt both of them, and they went in," he said. "Sometimes when you don't try to make them you make them."
  
  

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