Atkinson, NH-June 10^th-The Cleveland Golf Tour began its fourth season today at the Atkinson Country Club and Resort.  Conditions were soft and slow at the 6,564 yard course following a stubborn storm front that came in last night and finally cleared by mid-morning.  21-year old Sean O’Hair, of Aston, Pa, carded a 4-under par 68 and is being pursued by a mix of veterans and newcomers. Connecticut natives Jim West and Corey Harris sit one shot back at 3-under par while Atkinson member Marc Lawless, who just turned professional, and 2 time tour player of the year Geoff Sisk sit one shot back at 2-under.  Also in the mix at 1-under par are Paul Dickinson and Matt Donovan, both of whom spent most of last year on the Nationwide and Canadian Tours, respectively.

    O’Hair, who spent the off season competing out west on the highly competitive Gateway Tour Pacific Series, got his season off to a quick start as he turned in 3-under par 33.  He struggled coming home, however, and admitted that he “had some miscues out there.”  While much of O’Hair’s round revolved around his fine play on the front 9, playing partner Corey Harris began to heat up his round with a birdie on the par 4 9^th hole, which propelled him to a 5-under par 31 on the backside.  He credited his change in fortune to an on course putting adjustment he made following several three putts early on. “I’ve learned to make adjustments during the round,” said Harris, who hopes to “carry his momentum” into the final 2 days of play.

    Tour rookie Marc Lawless finds himself surrounded on the leaderboard by players who have proven themselves on the Cleveland golf tour level and beyond. Lawless himself, though, built an impressive resume at the highest level of amateur golf prior to turning professional just before this morning’s 7:36 am tee time.  The Atkinson native advanced to the match play portion of last year’s U.S. Amateur at Oakmont, which automatically qualified him for this year’s British Amateur at St. Andrew’s.  The former division 2 national player of the year at Cal. State Stanislaus turned the momentum in his favor at the par 5 12^th hole and finished strong en route to playing his final 6 holes in 2 under.  Lawless is joined at 2-under par by veteran Geoff Sisk, who recently qualified for next week’s U.S Open at Shinnecock Hills.  Defending champion Noah Zelnik struggled to a 1 over 73.

    Round 2 begins tomorrow at 7 am, with the leaders scheduled to go off around 10 am.  This is the first of 10 events on the Cleveland Golf Tour, which will visit 5 new venues on this year’s schedule.