Oct 2, 2008 - 7:32 PM
0 shoutsVERONA, New York (Ticker) -- Despite a successful round, all Jeff Overton could think about was what could have been.
Overton shot a 5-under-par 67 to grab the lead after Thursday's wind-swept first round of the $6 million Turning Stone Championship.
A native of Evansville, Indiana, Overton moved atop the leaderboard with a birdie on No. 8 - his penultimate hole after starting the round on the back nine. But after the round, he wasn't completely satisfied and talked about a putt he misread midway through his day.
"I wanted it pretty bad," said Overton, who spoke about missing a birdie chance on No. 18. "I looked at it and I was like, 'Is this thing going to go a little left?' I really looked at it and walked down there. I was like, 'You know, it's just so straight down the hill, and it's a little bumpy being late in the day and being so wet.'
"I was like, 'Just put it in the center and just kind of have good speed on it.' Sure enough, right there in the middle of the putt it kind of went a little left. What do you do? Made a couple other good ones, so, oh, well."
He made enough stellar shots to be in an unfamiliar position. Albeit early in the tournament, the 25-year-old Overton took the first step toward his first career PGA Tour win.
Overton's best finish this year was a tie for ninth at the AT&T National. He has made the cut 45 times in 75 career events, posting six top-10 finishes - including a second place in 2007.
Steve Allan and Michael Allen are one shot back after firing 67s. Allan briefly held the clubhouse lead before Overton finished with a flourish, holing three birdies in his final nine holes. Allan was just happy to be in a good position despite poor weather.
"I don't think I've played in colder and windier conditions on the PGA Tour since I have been here," Allan said. "I played a few years in Europe and we had some tough conditions. Playing back home in Australia, especially Melbourne, is a lot more changeable, so we can get this sort of thing. But it's been a while since it's been this cold and windy and wet."
American Tag Ridings, Carlos Franco of Paraguay and Australia's Jason Day are tied in fourth at 3-under.
The field for this week's Fall Series event includes nine players who already have won this season.
Defending champion Steve Flesch, trying to salvage a season which sees him ranked 71st on the money list, is two-over after firing a disappointing 74 in the first round. A four-time PGA Tour winner, Flesch finished sixth at the PGA Championship in August and was 15th at the Deutsche Bank Championship in his last start.
Last year, Flesch got off to a fast start with rounds of 66-65-66 and then held on for a two-stroke win over Allen after closing with a 73. The victory was his second of the season.
In trying to pick a winner, one may want to consider this recent trend - International players have won nine of the last 12 events on the PGA Tour, including all four in the FedEx Cup playoffs (Vijay Singh and Camilo Villegas).
First prize is $1.08 million.
