2006 RESULTS - ROUND 1, NOVEMBER 15
Leading The Pack: Co-Leaders Ride A Pair Of 66s To The Top
The confidence and spirit of the co-leaders of the 2006 TaylorMade Invitational couldn't be higher entering the second round, thanks to a pair of 6-under-par 66s on what is usually considered the tougher Nicklaus course.
Two-time champion Jimmy Letourneau labeled his day "fantastic", especially coming off a week at the adidas Golf Tournament at Vista Vallarta when he was feeling under the weather. Tom Harding, on the other hand, described his day as "boring, solid golf," but there was nothing pedestrian about his four-birdies down the stretch on the Nicklaus opening nine.
Letourneau of ShadowRidge Golf Club in Vista, California felt better not only about his health but about his game, having worked with Phil Blackmar over the weekend to shore up his stroke.
Letourneau's late-morning start on the Nicklaus course that produced six birdies -- at holes 1, 3, 4, 8, 11, and 15 -- also included three 20-foot putts that he drained. He hit 16 greens in regulation and missed only two fairways.
Can Letourneau become the first three-time champion? He certainly has to b e considered a favorite. He's scheduled to move over to the Weiskopf course, where he usually plays even better.
Co-leader Harding from Miles of Golf near Ann Arbor, Michigan, charged to the top with birdies down the stretch at holes 2, 5, 7 and 9. His bogey-free round included two earlier birdies at 13 and 17.
He's no stranger to Vista Vallarta and the TaylorMade Invitational. This is his fourth appearance and he has finished in the top 15 each time. The former Canadian, Asian and Nationwide Tour competitor feels comfortable here and it shows. His experience allows him to match up with the best competition the TaylorMade Invitational has to offer.
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DAILY SCORES - ROUND 1, NOVEMBER 15