Richard Barcelo leads the Chitimacha Louisiana Open, Nationwide Tour
The Nationwide Tour event of Chitimacha Louisiana Open teed off on Thursday at the old par-71, Triomphe Country Club in Los Angles. Richard Barcelo looked in fine form and carded a round of six-under par to lead the four day event by one stroke.
Barcelo is a seasoned campaigner and has been playing on this tour for the past four years. The 35-year old veteran looked in superb touch with his iron shots and putter. He started off in a classic style by making an eagle on his very first hole. He then
went on to make six birdies and a single double-bogey on his card.
The long par-4, 13th really troubled Barcelo; there was water on the right side of the fairway and his drive went way left of it. He was stuck in the thick rough and then went on to make a double bogey. It was his putter which favoured him throughout
the day. The veteran only made twenty putts playing through 18 holes.
The overwhelmed Barcelo said after his round, “It was playing 180 degrees different today than it did Tuesday in the practice round. I've been here a lot and I've seen all the wind conditions.”
Three players share the second spot on the leader board. Australian Scott Gardiner, Aaron Watkins and Carl Paulson, all posted a round of five-under par, 66 on the opening round and trail the leader by a single shot.
Gardiner also started off in a classic manner by making an eagle on his very first hole. He also made five birdies and two bogeys. The golfer from Australia was hitting the ball long off the tee but couldn’t capitalise on his drives. The 35-year-old has
only won a single tournament playing on this tour and is hoping to improve his record by lifting the trophy.
Watkins also made an eagle and five birdies and two bogeys. His stats of driving accuracy are on the high side but he failed to post a bogey free round. The 28-year old has yet to mark a victory on his record and is confident of curbing the challenge of
his opponents in the next three days.
Paulson was overjoyed with the ace which he made on the par-3, 3rd. He was seven-under going through the first fifteen holes. He had two drop shots on 16th and the finishing 18th. Overall, he was more than happy with his
hole-in-one and the way he was hitting his approach shots. Carl is now hoping to improve further on the next three days to post his name on top of the leader board.
Five players occupy the fifth spot on the score board. Bob Heintz, Aussie Matthew Giles, Michael Thompson, Fran Quinn and Brett Wetterich, all had a round of four-under par and are just two shots below the leader.
The second day of the Championship will start today with the course conditions certainly favouring all the players. There will also be a cutline today and the score is expected to be even-par. Players who have a two round score of even-par might make it
through the cutline score.
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