2006 Results - Round 1, November 8

Following the Leader: Smith, Jr. Take Top Honors On Day One

One of the keys to winning this week at Vista Vallarta's Nicklaus and Weiskopf courses will be keeping the ball out of the Bermuda rough and maneuvering the well-manicured greens.

That mantra held true for professional Dick Smith, Jr. on Wednesday, as he hit most fairways and putted well, lifting himself into the lead with a 6-under par 66* at the Nicklaus course on the first day of the adidas Golf - MAXFLI International.

"Well I hit it pretty solid out there all day," Smith said after his round. "I hit about 3 inches from the hole on 11 and made all pars from there. In fact, I birdied five in a row in the middle of my round (the 17th, 18th, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd), so that was quite a lift."

The fifth of those birdies came on the par-5, 550-yard 3rd hole. After driving his tee shot in the plants just off the fairway, he was able to not only save par, but hit his fifth consecutive birdie. And on the par-5, 535-yard 8th hole, he saved another poor tee shot by hitting backwards out of a low-lying ditch before saving par.

"I played well through the entire round," Smith said. "This is my best ever score in Mexico, so you've got to be happy with that. Any time you can come into the clubhouse as the leader, it's been a good day."

The club professional at Woodcrest Country Club in Cherry, NJ, Smith really felt like his practice round at the Nicklaus course earlier in the week helped him to play better Wednesday.

"I'm just going to hope to keep it up over the next few days," he said. "I'm excited, but I'll be a lot happier if I'm still at the top after four days."

*66 is revised score

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