Castle Rock – With its fairways still softened from Thursday’s rainout, Castle Pines’ 7,619-yard layout figured to play even longer than usual today as the first round of The International finally began. Nobody, therefore, could have expected to see one of the PGA Tour’s shortest hitters, Corey Pavin, challenge for the early lead.
Pavin ranks 203rd in driving distance with a 255.5-yard average that couldn’t keep up with many LPGA players. But the 1995 U.S. Open champion scored 10 points today under the modified Stableford scoring system and trails only Australian Geoff Ogilvy (11) with half of the field (72 of 144 players) finished for the day.
“It helps to hit it long,” Pavin said. “Anywhere it helps to hit it long, but you have to hit straight. The whole deal here is to keep the ball in play and give yourself a lot of chances at birdie.”
Pavin, winless on the PGA Tour since the 1996 Colonial, recorded six birdies and two bogeys. “I figure if I can make six birdies the rest of my life, I’ll be all right,” he said with a grin.
Ogilvy, who recorded his first PGA Tour victory this year at Tucson, also had six birdies but had only one bogey. He birdied three of his last four holes, highlighted by a wedge shot to two feet on the 403-yard 15th.
Stewart Cink and Joe Ogilvie are in the clubhouse with 9 points. Brad Faxon, the 1992 International champion, and Frank Lickliter have 8 points. Two-time International winner Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia finished the first round with 3 points apiece.
