May grabs first-round lead at rainy Xerox Classic

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Bob May birdied the final hole late Thursday for a 6-under-par 64 and a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the Nationwide Tour's Xerox Classic. The 39-year old May finished off a solid round of golf with an easier-than-it-looked up and down at the par-5 ninth hole and sits atop the leaderboard in the $600,000 event at Irondequoit Country Club.

Bob May carded six birdies and no bogeys Thursday at Irondeqouit. (Martin/Getty Images)

Inside the Numbers

First-Round Leaderboard

Player Score 1. Bob May 64 -6 2. Dave Schultz 65 -5 T3. Steve Pate 66 -4 T3. Greg Chalmers 66 -4 T3. Greg Owen 66 -4 T3. Craig Bowden 66 -4 T3. Brendon Todd 66 -4 T3. Jon Rusk 66 -4 T9. Tripp Isenhour 67 -3 T9. Colt Knost 67 -3 T9. Brian Stuard 67 -3 T9. Hunter Haas 67 -3 T9. Brendon De Jonge 67 -3 T9. Vance Veazey 67 -3 T9. Kyle Reifers 67 -3 T9. Brian Smock 67 -3

Texas rookie Dave Schultz is alone in second, one shot back. Steve Pate, Greg Chalmers, Greg Owen, Craig Bowden, Brendon Todd and Jon Rusk share third place, two off the lead.

May has been hovering near the top 25 on the money since a runner-up finish at the Bank of America Open in late May, but comes into this week No. 29 on the money. A victory would be worth $108,000, and that would guarantee a return trip to the PGA TOUR in 2009.

"You don't even worry about it," he said. "We've got like nine tournaments left, or something like that. There's so much golf to be played. I just want to play some solid golf and see what happens."

May was steady as he criss-crossed the Donald Ross-designed, par-70 layout.

"It was just well-rounded golf today," he said after missing only three fairways and four greens. "Everything was pretty good. I've been striking the ball really well and now I'm starting to score with it."

May tied for seventh at last week's Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open after opening with a career-matching 63 on the first day.

"I've been feeling like it's been coming for the last six or seven weeks, like something good might happen," he said.

Schultz held the clubhouse lead for most of the day after finishing off a 5-under-par 65 in the rain-delayed morning wave. The 25-year old North Dakota native was 5 under through 16 holes when the field was forced off the course because of threatening conditions. Following a 91-minute stoppage, Schultz returned with pars on the final two holes for a 64, matching his lowest round of the year.

"I'm very pleased with it," said the former Texas Christian University All-America. "The main thing was getting off to a good start with birdies on the first three holes. That set the pace and got me a good feeling out there."

Schultz admitted he didn't do anything spectacular during a round that saw him hit 15 greens in regulation.

"I've been hitting it pretty good, but I feel like I've been leaving a few shots out there," he said. "I'd say I was just a lot more efficient today."

Todd, a 23-year old rookie who graduated from the University of Georgia last year, held a share of the lead before a wayward second shot at the final hole resulted in a bogey and a 4-under 68. Todd was in contention early in the year and posted all three of his top-10 finishes in his first seven starts. In his last seven, he's made only two cuts and has one top-25 finish.

"I've learned that sometimes I need to take a more conservative approach," he said. "It's playing smarter than you think you should. Sometimes I play too aggressive at times. When you do that, there are days you get away with it and there are days you don't. When you don't, you wind up making some big numbers. I just haven't gotten away with it this year."

First-Round News & Notes: First-round play was suspended from 12:59 to 2:30 p.m. due to threatening conditions in the area. ... J.L. Lewis withdrew on Wednesday and was replaced in the field by Brad Lamb. ... Robin Freeman aced the par-3 sixth hole during the morning wave. Freeman used a wedge on the 114-yard hole. It is the fifth ace in the tournament's four-year history and the fourth on hole No. 6. ... Colt Knost, a two-time winner this year and No. 5 on the money list, hit all 14 fairways during his 3-under 67. ... Brad Lamb (78) withdrew after the first round. ... Players who were bogey-free in the opening round: Bob May (64), Greg Owen (66), Colt Knost (67), Brian Stuard (67), Brian Smock (67) and Alex Prugh (68). ... Rick Price, winner of the inaugural event in 2005, shot a 1-under-par 69. ... This week's field features the top-13 money winners on the 2008 Nationwide Tour.