Photo by Kasey Hine/NAPGT :: Story by Matt Byrne/NAPGT
July 17, 2007 (Bernardston, MA)-In what some players said was the toughest setup yet of the 2007 NAPGT schedule, James Renner pulled ahead of the 59 player field with a steady, if not exceptional, round of five under par 67.
“I played pretty good today,” Renner said. Although the lowest shooter of the day, he said he “expected someone to go lower.”
Renner is in his first year as an NAPGT member; last year he participated in a handful of events.
Trailing the lead by only one shot was Dustin Cone and Eli Zackheim at four under par 68. Cone finished twelve under par and tied for fourth at last week’s Blackstone National Open Championship, continuing this week with more birdies and solid play.
Tied for fourth at three under par this week after the first round was Jessie Smith and Michael Welch. Zackheim and Smith, former teammates at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, will spend the summer traveling and competing together on the tour. Both said their personal competition helped drive their play toward lower scores this week.
After Smith posted his 69, Zackheim caught him leaving the scorer’s tent. “This is the highlight of my day right here,” Zackheim said, spotting his roommate from across the lot. “Where’s Jesse? You’re old news buddy!” he said. Zackheim bested Smith by only one stroke.
“We’ve both been playing together all week, and pushed each other,” Zackheim said. Pleased with his score but focused on tomorrow, he said this year’s competition is tighter after the average field was reduced from last year’s 110 to this year’s 70 players, a move that he said he thought was positive.
“It’s tougher to make a check, it’s tougher to make the cut, but in the end with that better and more concentrated talent pool it’s a better training ground,” Zackheim said. “If the end result is getting through Q school, if the end result is something like that, [it’s worth it] for sure,” he said.
Smith, tied for fourth and in position to make a push for the top tomorrow, said his strategy of patience and conservative playing has begun to pay off.
“The older I get and the more I play around good players, I realize that you got to be as conservative as possible,” Smith said.
Still in the hunt is 2006 Player of the Year Geoff Sisk, poised at two under par, just three shots back.
Second round action will begin tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. The top 22 players, including ties, will move on to the third and final round.
