The Daily Wrap-up, Round 1: Zurich Classic of New Orleans

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Apr. 22, 2010
By Staff and Wire Reports

AVONDALE, La. -- Jason Bohn took advantage of calm morning conditions to shoot a 7-under 65 and take a two-stroke lead over Jason Dufner, John Senden, Jeff Overton, Greg Owen and 2006 champion Chris Couch in the Zurich Classic on Thursday.

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Scorecard: Bohn
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Bohn had eight birdies and one bogey -- when he tried to reach the par-5 18th green in two stokes and ended up in the water -- at Pete Dye-designed TPC Louisiana.

"I was playing aggressively on the last hole," Bohn said. "If I had to do it all over again, I'd hit the exact same shot."

Every time he had a chance for a birdie, he made it, Bohn said.

"And I made a couple of par-saving putts," said Bohn, who had 26 putts.

Bohn was just one stroke off the course record of 64 set by Kyle Reifers in 2007.

Bohn's score held up easily as the wind came up in the afternoon and made the course play much tougher.

"There is not much coverage out here on this golf course," Dufner said. "It's pretty open. So if it can get windy, that will make play a lot more difficult."

Five players -- former British Open champion David Duval, Charles Howell III, Kevin Sutherland, 2002 winner K.J. Choi and Troy Merritt -- opened with 68s.

Defending champion Jerry Kelly shot a 71.

This is the fifth time this year Choi has opened with a 68 or better.

Choi, Owen and Overton teed off in the afternoon.

"It was blowing," said Owen, who made five birdies on the front nine. "There were a few gusts, but it's obviously tough."

Defending champion Jerry Kelly had an opening-round 71.

Three players pulled out during their round due to injuries. George McNeill (elbow), John Mallinger (shoulder), and Jeff Maggert (shoulder).

ZURICH CLASSIC: ROUND 1 NOTEBOOK
By Mark Williams, PGA TOUR staff

• Chris Couch (67) got to 5-under through 11 holes before posting pars at the last seven holes to finish at 5-under after a bogey-free first round.

• Couch, who's only TOUR win came at the 2006 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, had posted just two career top-10s before the win. Couch has two top-10s this season after beginning the year with a 4-digit Official World Golf Ranking. After a pair of T4 finishes at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, Couch jumped to 205thin the ranking. His career-high world ranking was 103rd, the week after his victory.

• Couch is playing out of the Major Medical Extension category, with 21 tournaments to earn $796,087 and retain that status for the remainder of the 2010 season. The Zurich Classic is Couch's 10th start this year. He has earned $577,677 in his previous nine starts and requires $218,410 to retain his current status. With a 2-way tie for sixth or better this week he will achieve that goal.

• David Duval recorded 10 pars to open his round before three consecutive birdies at Nos. 2, 3 and 4. After a birdie at No. 8, Duval missed a 6-footer for birdie at his final hole to shoot 4-under 68.

• Duval, currently 18th in the Ryder Cup points ranking, posted his best opening round this year since a first-round 67 at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am where he finished T2.

• Charles Howell III (68) has posted 10 consecutive sub-par rounds at the Zurich Classic and 16 of 29 rounds in the 60s at this event. Howell is now 83-under par in 29 rounds (522 holes) at the Zurich Classic.

• Howell III is in good shape to make his eighth cut from eight starts at the Zurich Classic. The Augusta, Ga. native owns an excellent record at this event with four top-10s including T2 finishes in his previous two starts here (2006, 2009).

• To read the full notebook, click here.

Notables at the Zurich Classic

Name	Score	Position	Comment	Friday tee time (ET)
David Duval	4 under	T7	After missing the cut in four of his last five events, Duval got off to a good start with four birdies and no bogeys.	12:50 p.m.
David Toms	3 under	T12	A winner of this event in 2001, Toms shot 69 despite a double bogey and a bogey on the card.	1:20 p.m.
Rory Sabbatini	3 under	T12	Sabbatini shot his fourth straight round in the 60s dating back to last week, hitting 15 of 18 greens Thursday.	8:40 a.m.
Boo Weekley	2 under	T23	Weekley hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation, but he struggled with the putter, taking 30 putts.	8:40 a.m.
Sergio Garcia	1 over	T87	It was a wild day for Garcia, who had four birdies to go with two double bogeys and a bogey while hitting just seven fairways.	8:30 a.m.

Thursday's Best

EASIEST HOLE	TOUGHEST HOLE
The 561-yard par-5 seventh hole was the easiest with a Thursday scoring average of 4.591. EAGLES: 4 BIRDIES: 69 PARS: 69 BOGEYS: 10 OTHERS: 2	The 215-yard par-3 17th hole was toughest with a Thursday scoring average of 3.188. EAGLES: 0 BIRDIES: 15 PARS: 103 BOGEYS: 28 OTHERS: 8