Harris, Sisk storm to lead at Samoset with opening 64’s September 23rd by Dom Dastoli
Rockport, ME-Corey Harris and Geoff Sisk each fired matching rounds of 6-under par 64’s and share the lead after the first round of the Samoset Open. Defending Champion Eric Egloff sits two shots back after an opening 4-under par 66 while Paul Dickinson and Scott Hawley lurk one shot further back at 3-under par. Shannon Sykora and Justin Goodhue lead a five pack of players at 2-under par. “Anytime you play with somebody who has good tempo, its fun to watch,” Harris said of Sisk. “It helps me.” Following a blistering 4-under par 30 on the front side, Harris then climbed to 7-under par with birdies on the 11th, 12th and 14th holes. Despite playing the final four holes in 1-over, Harris still notched his lowest tour round of the season. Sisk, meanwhile, posted a 3-under par 31 on the front side that was highlighted by a seven iron to one foot on the par 3, 7th hole. Following four consecutive pars to begin the back nine, Sisk struck a 4-wood to 20 feet on the par 5, 14th hole and drained the putt for an eagle to get to 5-under. The two-time player of the year then added a birdie on the par 4, 16th hole to post his second 64 in the last three Cleveland events. Eric Egloff began defense of his crown with an exciting opening round of 4-under par 66 that featured six birdies, four bogeys and an eagle on the par 5, 4th hole. Paul Dickinson’s round of 67 also featured a healthy mix of birdies on bogeys. After two bogeys and two birdies on the front, Dickinson overcame three back side bogeys with four birdies and an eagle on the par 5, 14th hole. “It seemed like Jekyll and Hyde golf out there,” said Dickinson, who shares fourth place with Scott Hawley, the runner-up in the last Cleveland event, the Captain’s Open. Shannon Sykora, who stands third on the money list, carded four birdies and two bogeys in a 2-under par 68 and shares sixth place with a group of players that includes former PGA TOUR veteran Jim Hallet, tour rookie Justin Goodhue and Julio Santos. Santos’ opening 68 marked his best performance on tour all season. “I figured out something the other week,” he confessed following the first round. On the day, Santos hit 17 greens in regulation and plans to take a carefree attitude into the final two rounds. “I have nothing to lose.” Joe Cioe’s 1-over par 71 included an unlikely hole in one on the treacherous, water lined 227 yard par 3, 3rd hole. “The water just looks at you from the left,” said Cioe. After slightly pulling his three iron tee shot to the left, Cioe’s ball was redirected by a favorable left to right cross wind en route to the tenth hole in one of his career. “It’s definitely one of the luckiest hole in ones you’ll see,” he admitted afterward. In all, 27 players shot par or better in round one. Following round two, only the top 33 players and ties will advance to Saturday’s final round. This week’s purse of $73,800 is the highest in Cleveland Golf Tour history, and the winner’s check of $12,700 ties the previous high established at the Nevele Grande Open. |
