Valero Texas Open: First-Round Notebook  PGA TOUR Staff SAN ANTONIO -- Jesper Parnevik opened with a career-best 9-under 61 Thursday at LaCantera Golf Course to take a four-shot lead in the Valero Texas Open. He has recorded 62 twice in his career -- 2006 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic (The Classic Club), a course record and 1997 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic (Indian Wells Country Club).  Jesper Parnevik bogeyed his first hole, then birdied eight of his next 11. (Ferrey/WireImage)
• Coming into the week, Jesper Parnevik's best opening round in a TOUR event was a 65. The 14-year veteran has opened a TOUR event with a 65 a total of 11 times in his career. • There are eight past champions in the field this week at the Valero Texas Open and three of them are among the leaders after round one. Two-time winner Justin Leonard and 2005 winner Robert Gamez, who are tied for second, opened with 5-under 65s to lead the group of winners. • The four-stroke lead for Jesper Parnevik is the largest 18-hole lead on TOUR this year. Padraig Harrington held a three-stroke lead after the first round at the Nissan Open. His 61 also matches the season low first-round score; Brandt Snedeker recorded an 11-under 61 in the first round of the Buick Invitational (North Course). • Jesper Parnevik has not recorded a top-10 finish this year. His last top-10 effort was a tie for sixth at the 2006 Chrysler Championship, the last full-field event of the 2006 season. • Two-time champion Justin Leonard recorded a season-best round with his opening-round 65. Leonard has recorded 64 three times in his career at LaCantera. Among the leaders, Matt Hendrix also posted a season best with his opening 65. • Defending champion Eric Axley opened with a 3-under 67. His toughest opponent this week may be history, as there have been only eight multiple winners of the Valero Texas Open: Bill Mehlhorn (1927-28), Dutch Harrison (1939, 1951), Sam Snead (1948, 1950), Arnold Palmer (1960-61-62), Ben Crenshaw (1973, 1986), Jay Haas (1982, 1993), Duffy Waldorf (1995, 1999) and Justin Leonard (2000-2001). Leonard is one of only three players to successfully defend titles, along with Mehlhorn and three-time champion Palmer (1960-61-62). • Eric Axley entered last year's Valero Texas Open in 183rd place on the money list, but by week's end he had his first career win. He enters this year's event in 144th place on the money list, but with a lot fewer worries. He's exempt through the 2008 season thanks to that win. • Watch out for a player who is outside the top 145 on the season money list to emerge as a winner this week at the Valero Texas Open. The last four winners ranked 149th or higher on the money list coming into San Antonio and went on to victory. All four winners did not have any status for the next season on the PGA TOUR. First-round leader Jesper Parnevik is 138th on the 2007 Season Money List; last year he finished 71st on the 2006 final money list. • Only five players were bogey-free on Thursday. They were Robert Gamez (65), Matt Hendrix (65), Daniel Chopra (65), Bart Bryant (66) and Carlos Franco (68). • Tommy Armour III withdrew prior the first round and was replaced by Gabriel Hjertstedt. ... Kevin Na withdrew during the round with a back injury. |
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