Associated Press
Thursday, July 20

ENDICOTT, N.Y. -- Taking advantage of near-perfect conditions, Esteban Toledo shot an 8-under-par 64 on Thursday to take a three-stroke lead after the first round of the B.C. Open.

Brian Gay and Canada's Glen Hnatiuk opened with 67s, and Brad Faxon, who beat Fred Funk in a dramatic two-hole playoff in 1999, led a group of nine players another shot back.

One of those at 68 was 41-year-old journeyman Michael Allen, a Monday qualifier who had a hole-in-one on the 185-yard 17th hole.

Toledo certainly didn't look like a player who has missed the cut in four of his last five tournaments. After starting with consecutive pars, he went on a tear of nine birdies, four of them in a row over the 6,974-yard En-Joie Golf Club course, one of the shortest on tour.

Only a bogey on the 321-yard, par-4 16th marred his card, which equaled his best round in 120 events on the PGA Tour. He also had a 64 in the 1998 CVS Charity Classic.

The 37-year-old Toledo, who had never before led a round on tour, figured it was his day when he sank a 55-foot birdie putt on the par-4, 442-yard 13th and followed it with another from 30 feet on the par-3 14th. That dropped him to 9 under and had him shaking his head in wonderment.

"That putt (on 13) was from California to Florida, and I made it," said Toledo, a native of Mexico who now lives in California. "I was just trying to get it close and it went in. The same thing on 14. It was all putting."

Although the B.C. Open field was down to just 144 from its customary 156 and included only two of the top 50 money-winners because the tournament was moved from its usual September date to July opposite the British Open, Toledo was not about to complain.

"I've been practicing hard and not getting anything out of my putter," said Toledo, whose best finish on tour is a tie for third in the 1998 BellSouth Classic. "Finally, they just went in. I've got a little confidence for tomorrow. I feel like I was on top of my game like Tiger (Woods) does every single week. But I'm not thinking I'm ahead. There's still three days to go."

Faxon started the day with 10 straight pars and finished with a rush of four birdies, the last coming on a 20-foot putt on No. 9.

Being there again, near the top of the leaderboard, was nice. Being here, and not at St. Andrews, was bittersweet.

"It's a tough position to be in if you like playing in the British Open, and I love playing over there," said Faxon, who failed to qualify by two strokes, flew back across the Atlantic on Tuesday, and was still fighting jet lag. "The hardest part was winning here (last year) and then seeing the dates moved. I was sad. Last year was an emotional win for me. I love playing here, too. This is the way the Tour started."

The switch from September, which will last three years, made for totally different playing conditions on the public course. Last year, the field was forced to play the final two rounds on Sunday because rain from Hurricane Floyd forced postponement of Thursday's opening round.

"Last year we could fly right to the flags," Faxon said. "We have never seen this course dry. It's a lot harder up-and-down if you miss the green. I left a few shots out there, but I'm happy. The course is playing much harder than last year."

Like Toledo, neither Gay nor Hnatiuk (pronounced NATCH-ik) has won on tour. Hnatiuk, whose best finish is a tie for 14th in the 1998 Tucson Chrysler Classic, was thrilled just to see the interview room.

"So this is what it looks like in here," he said. "It's the first time I've ever been in here on tour."

Gay, a two-time All-American at the University of Florida, is in only his second year on tour. But that year under his belt is beginning to make a difference. He tied for fourth in the Honda Classic in March and tied for 14th last week in the Greater Milwaukee Open.

"Last year, I felt like I was lost out here every week," he said. "I've played a lot better this year. Playing most courses once makes it easier, and now I know where to register, where the locker rooms are, and I know a lot more guys out here. That has a lot to do with your comfort level."

Rory Sabbatini, who finished third last year, withdrew Wednesday.