LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Scott Gump shot a 6-under 66 on
Wednesday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the
six-round PGA Tour qualifying tournament.
The top 30 players after the final round Monday will earn PGA
Tour exemptions, with the next 50 earning full exemptions to the
Nationwide circuit.
Gump returned to the Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West,
where he first played in the PGA's final qualifying process 16
years ago.
Gump, who has played nine years on the PGA Tour, tried to keep
the opening round in perspective.
"You just want to get in a rhythm," he said. "Even with the
bad shots, you want to get in a rhythm. You know, hey, I can make
some bogeys. In 108 holes, everybody's going to make some bogeys,
and probably throw some doubles in there. Hopefully there will be
some birdies, too."
Phillip Price of Wales, a 14-year European Tour member who
played in the 2002 Ryder Cup, was tied for second at 67 with PGA
Tour veteran Bob Burns, Nationwide member D.J. Trahan and Keoke
Cotner of Mexico. Cotner was the only one of the four to play the
Stadium Course, generally considered the tougher of the two
layouts.
Thirteen players were tied at 68, including past U.S. Ryder Cup
player Ken Green.
The golfers will switch courses for Thursday's round. Among the
high-profile players in the field are 1987 U.S. Open winner Scott
Simpson, who shot a 71, and seven-time tour winner Bill Glasson,
who shot a 72.