Dan Forsman carded a seven-under-par 65 to claim a two-shot lead after the first round of the Compaq Classic at the English Turn Golf and Country Club in New Orleans. Forsman, who has not won on the PGA Tour since capturing the Buick Open in 1992, was red-hot with his putter, taking advantage of the slick greens in a round that included eight birdies and a bogey.
Rich Beem, who had a magnificent back nine, is in second place. Beem, who started on the back nine, had seven birdies and shot a 29 on that side, tying a course record, but he cooled down on the front side to finish on five under. Trinidad's Stephen Ames, KJ Choi of South Korea, Stewart Cink, South African Tim Clark, Jeff Gallagher, Dudley Hart, Per-Ulrik Johansson of Sweden and John Rollins are all tied for third after 68s.
Forty-one other players broke par but most of them were early starters who avoided the strong winds which blew up in the later stages of the opening day.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
