Lancaster forges one stroke clear at Deere Run
CHICAGO (Reuters) - American Neal Lancaster fired a seven-under-par 64 to grab a one-shot lead after the first round of the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois on Thursday.
The 44-year-old from North Carolina reeled off eight birdies and a solitary bogey at the TPC Deere Run to set the pace in the final PGA Tour event before next week's British Open.
Nine-times Tour winner Kenny Perry signed off with consecutive birdies for a 65 to share second place with fellow Americans Paul Stankowski, Duffy Waldorf, Jason Dufner and Scott Gutschewski.
Two more Americans, Bob May and Kevin Sutherland, were in a tie for seventh after shooting 66s.
Lancaster, whose only Tour victory came at the 1994 Byron Nelson Classic where he triumphed in a six-man playoff, was delighted with his score after struggling on the practice range the previous day.
"I just went out and tried to not put any pressure on myself," he told reporters. "I haven't been playing very good for about the last six years, so I just went out and kind of played it as a practice round, just tried to enjoy it.
"I was hitting it so bad on the range yesterday, I just basically quit hitting it. Didn't even go to the putting green all week because I've been putting so bad for a few years. I just kind of said I'll go out and what I see, I'll hit it."
FAST START
Lancaster, who jested that his fitness regimen included smoking two packs of cigarettes a day, made a fast start by racing to the turn in five-under 31 after teeing off at the 10th.
He then picked up further shots at the fourth, fifth and sixth before stumbling at the par-four last where his first two shots ended up in the rough.
Masters champion Zach Johnson, the world number 15 and the only member of the top 45 playing this week, opened with a 70 in his first tournament since last month's Travelers Championship.
"Very mediocre for me," the 31-year-old American said after carding three birdies and two bogeys. "The golf course was great and I played pretty average, I thought.
"It was just trying to feel it, and I'm not quite feeling everything yet. My ball-striking is certainly coming around, my putter needs to have a little more attention. But I needed the break, and I think it was the best thing for me.
Big-hitting John Daly opened with a one-over 72 but Australia's defending champion John Senden carded a miserable 78, featuring three double-bogeys and three bogeys, for the second worst round of the day.
(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles)
