Canadian Tours Panama Open Opening Round Highlights

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:32:23

"CORONADO BEACH, PANAMA -- After three second-place finishes on the Canadian Tour in 2001, Dave Christensen of Otsego, MN finds himself in familiar territory after today's opening round of the Panasonic Panama Open.

Coming off an a first-round 5-under 67 earlier today, the 25-year-old former Minnesota amateur champion is tied with three others, one shot behind leader David Ladd (North Palm Beach, FL). Mario Tiziani, the brother-in-law of PGA Tour star Steve Stricker and another Canadian Tour member, is also one shot back heading into Friday.

A total of 80 professionals, including the top 40 available from the 2001 Canadian Tour Order of Merit, as well as four amateurs, are taking part in the $337,500 Cdn ($225,000 U.S.) tournament, with $60,000 Cdn going to the winner. The Panasonic Panama Open kicks off a year that will see the Canadian Tour make stops in Central America, the United States, Mexico and Canada. Since the event is a Tour-sanctioned Invitational Tournament, prize money won this week will not be factored into the 2002 Canadian Tour Order of Merit rankings.

American Steve Runge is the defending champion in Panama, and is back to defend his title. Runge opening with a 74 Thursday and is tied for 54th.

Defending Canadian Tour Order of Merit champion Aaron Barber (Orlando, FL) is tied for sixth at 4-under, as are fellow Tour members Eamonn Brady, Jace Bugg, Ken Duke, Jaime Gomez and Patrick Moore.

There will be no cut after 36-holes, with the final of four rounds scheduled for Sunday.

Five players from last year's starting field-Byrd, Kenneth Staton, Stephen Gangluff, Paul Claxton and Tim Petrovic-recently earned playing privileges for the 2002 PGA Tour.

David Morland IV (Aurora, ON), a PGA Tour member last year, gained a spot in the Panasonic starting field when American Steve Woods withdrew. Blair Piercy of Victoria was also a late scratch from the starting field.

Following the Panama event, the Canadian Tour returns to action with Winter Q-School February 11-15 in Orlando, FL. The Texas Challenge kicks off the U.S. portion of the schedule March 4-10 in Houston, the first of six events that will be broadcast live on The Golf Channel.

Full Field Scores

1. Ladd, David North Palm Beach, FL 66
2. Christensen, Dave Otsego, MN 67
2. McLuen, Jedd Charleston, SC 67
2. McNerney, Mike Palm Beach Gardens, FL 67
2. Tiziani, Mario St. Paul, MN 67
6. Alarcon, Rafael Mexico 68
6. Barber, Aaron Orlando, FL 68
6. Brady, Eamonn Ireland 68
6. Bugg, Jace Henderson, KY 68
6. Duke, Ken Boca Raton, FL 68
6. Gomez, Jaime McAllen, TX 68
6. Moore, Patrick Cornelius, NC 68
6. Peters, Justin Coral Springs, FL 68
6. Sanchez, Javier Mexico 68
15. Gregory, Greg Burleson, TX 69
15. Kirkpatrick, David Lakeland, FL 69
15. Massey, Rich Harrington Park, NJ 69
15. Payne, Brian Chicago, IL 69
15. Slawter, Mark Raleigh, NC 69
15. Wright, Chad Ventura, CA 69
21.Drewery, Jonn Cambridge, ON 70
21. Glover, Lucas Greenville, SC 70
21. Hart, Steve Tequesta, FL 70
21. Quiroz, Alex Mexico 70
21. Scott, Steve Wellington, FL 70
21. Unk, Brian Cuyahoga Falls, OH 70
27. Engler, John Augusta, GA 71
27. Gillespie, Derek Oshawa, ON 71
27. Haskins, Steve El Paso, TX 71
27. Maunder, Eddie Whitby, ON 71
27. O'Neal, Tim Savannah, GA 71
27. Skinner, Sonny Sylvester, GA 71
27. Tambellini, Roger Templeton, CA 71
34. Amaya, Jesus Bogota, Columbia 72
34. Cioe, Joe Homosassa, FL 72
34. Conrad, Bob Seattle, WA 72
34. Dillon, Ryan Jupiter, FL 72
34. Griff, Darren Salt Spring Island, BC 72
34. Klauk, Jeff Ponte Verda Beach, FL 72
34. Masson, Grant Dallas, TX 72
34. Mendoza, Gustavo Bogota, Columbia 72
34. Morland IV, David Aurora, ON 72
34. Patton, Chris Fountain Head, SC 72
34. Waggoner, Steven Cocoa Beach, FL 72
45. Bohn, Jason Atlanta, GA 73
45. Friend, Bob Pittsburgh, PA 73
45. Gilliam, Nick Gainesville, FL 73
45. Greenwood, Chris Valdese, NC 73
45. Jensen, Clint Palm Beach Gardens, FL 73
45. Pinzon, Juan Bogota, Columbia 73
45. Stone, Dan St. Petersburg, FL 73
45. Velasquez, Rigoberto Medellin, Columbia 73
45. Watson, Derek Manning, SC 73
54. Biancalana, Roy Lake Mary, FL 74
54. Cardoze, Ricardo (A) Panama City 74
54. Clement, Carlos (A) Panama City 74
54. Corral, Jorge Mexico 74
54. Driscoll, James Brookline, MA 74
54. Martinez, Miguel Caracas, Venezuela 74
54. Norman, Mike Panama City 74
54. Petersen, Scott Greenwood Village, CO 74
54. Runge, Steve Valrico, FL 74
54. Straub, Tim Huntersville, NC 74
54. Thompson, Kyle Columbia, SC 74
54. Veress, Zoltan Kitchener, ON 74
54. Wall, Chris Dallas, TX 74
67. Baum, Matt Ft. Pierce, FL 75
67. Brigman, Jaxon Abilene, TX 75
67. Cantwell Jr., Tim Wellington, FL 75
67. Matthew, Craig Ile Bizard, QC 75
67. McMillan, Rob Winnipeg, MB 75
67. Mitchell, Michael Tequesta, FL 75
67. Ordonez, Miguel (A) Panama City 75
74. Caldwell, Rex Webster, TX 76
74. Foltz, Jerry Orlando, FL 76
74. Ford, Scott Lake Worth, FL 76
74. Howser, David Cordova, TN 76
74. Martin, Wes Calgary, AB 76
74. Matyczuk, Davidson Thunder Bay, ON 76
74. Waldman, Brett Coral Springs, FL 76
81. LaVoie, Ryan Jupiter, FL 77
81. Zelnick, Noah Valrico, FL 77
83. LeBrun, Steve Palm Springs, FL 79
84. Duran, Ernesto (A) Panama City 80

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