Tain Lee of San Juan Capistrano finished with seven straight birdies and shot 7-under-par 65 to lead Rick Cochran and Kyle Scott of South Africa by one shot after the first round of the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament at PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Lee, who captured the 2010 NCAA Division III individual title for Claremont-Mudd-Scripps College, started on No. 10 and was at even par through nine holes until making a birdie at No. 1, followed by a bogey, before he began his sizzling run.
“I did not play well in my practice sessions early in the week and today’s warm-up was horrible,” said the 24-year-old Lee, a four-time Division III All-American. ” … It’s clearly a marathon and not a sprint, as everyone keeps saying.”
Cochran, of Paducah, Ky., who is the nephew of Champions Tour standout Russ Cochran, birdies six of his last 10 holes to post a 66 and tie Scott, who had five consecutive birdies through No. 14.
Rob Oppenheim carded a bogey-free 67 and was tied for fourth with Ted Purdy of Phoenix and the University of Arizona, who birdied his last to holes while finishing on the front nine. Purdy won the 2005 EDS Byron Nelson Championship on the PGA Tour.
Jhared Hack of Sanford, Fla., shot 68 and was tied for sixth with Matt Fast of Baton Rouge, La., Seamus Power of Ireland, Dustin Bray of Asheboro, N.C., Justin Peters of University of Nevada-Reno and Stuart, Fla., and Cory Renfro of Canada.
Brett Lederer of Lakewood and Long Beach State was tied for 12th at 69.
