November 29, 2005

Hinkle Sets Early Pace, Nuckolls Two Behind

Tuesday morning arrived warm, bright and slightly breezy for the 43 teams comprising the field of the inaugural adidas Golf – Maxfli International. As always Vista Vallarta, including the Nicklaus Course and Weiskopf Course, were groomed to perfection. Former PGA Tour professional Lon Hinkle took advantage of the conditions and fired an opening-round 64 to take a two-shot lead over Rod Nuckolls, both of whom played the Weiskopf.

Hinkle and Nuckolls are likewise perched atop the leader board in the team event, with Nuckolls’ team of Tom Copeland, Jeff Skaleski and Mark and Mike Marney in front at 25 under, followed by Hinkle’s team of Chris Chase, Vernon Edler, John Itzel and Katsuhiko Watanabe at 22 under.

"Everything was working well today," said Hinkle. “I was never in trouble, hit my irons close to the hole and putted well.” He got off to a fast start by birdying the first hole and never looked back. His back nine included birdies on both par fives and on the long par-four 16th after a monstrous drive left him just an 8-iron for his approach. Hinkle credited his length off the tee to the TaylorMade r7 quad driver that he put into play three months ago, noting “I’ve picked up 15 to 20 yards off the tee with the r7 – the ball goes like a bat out of hell.”

Four players were knotted in third place at two under: Jason Brown, Cary Hungate, Mark Dewdney and Gordon Vietmeier. Hungate has been inclined to play well at Vista Vallarta of late – he finished runner-up in this year’s TaylorMade Invitational held here two weeks ago, losing in a playoff to Craig Thomas after posting a four-round total of 15-under par. He could, however, take consolation in the one-shot victory that he and his playing partners eked out in the team competition. Brown has also played Vista Vallarta well in the past, having held the lead in the 2002 TaylorMade Invitational, only to break his ankle the night before the final round.

Interestingly, no one in the field scored in the high sixties, with only Hinkle and Nuckolls dipping below 70. Murmurs were that a number of difficult pin positions on the Nicklaus Course (especially on No. 3) did their share to help protect par. Either way, those chasing Hinkle and Nuckolls during the next three days will no doubt need to shoot for the pin more often than play safe.