Marino races to early lead

Source: Agencies  |   2008-7-5  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

AMERICAN Steve Marino shot a flawless five-under-par 65 to seize a one-shot lead after the first round of the AT&T National at the Congressional Country Club in Maryland on Thursday.

The 28-year-old, playing his second full season on the PGA Tour, birdied three of the first four holes to set the tone for the day before signing off with his fifth birdie of the round at the par-four last.

"There was very little wind, the greens were perfect and soft, so you could really throw some iron shots in there," said Marino, who grew up in nearby Fairfax, Virginia.

One shot behind Marino are Americans Jeff Overton, Frank Lickliter II and Bob Estes, and Australian Rod Pampling.

The tournament is hosted by Tiger Woods but the world No. 1 was forced to skip the event to recuperate from knee surgery following his triumph at last month's US Open.

Woods's teammate at Stanford University, 35-year-old Notah Begay III, was among seven players tied for sixth at 67.

Marino, who has had three top 10 finishes this year and earned nearly US$1.1 million in prize money, conceded "there's a long way to go" in his bid for a maiden PGA Tour title.

"The guy that's leading the first round I would say the majority of the time, they don't go on to win the tournament," he said.

Joining Begay two strokes off the pace were Germany's Alex Cejka, Americans Billy Mayfair, Tommy Armour III and Anthony Kim, Australian Stuart Appleby and Fredrik Jacobson of Sweden.

South Korean K.J. Choi carded a two-under 68 to lie three strokes off the pace, while American Rocco Mediate finished at three over 73.