Riley leads by one after first round
BROUSSARD, La. – Chris Riley recorded a 6-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead
over Jeff Klauk at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by Dynamic
Industries – the first domestic tournament of the season on the Nationwide
Tour. Monday Qualifier Andrew Dresser and PGA TOUR rookie Travis Perkins
sit just two shots behind.
Riley, who is fresh off of a 21st place finish at last week’s PGA TOUR stop
in Puerto Rico, is a local favorite at the par-71 Le Triomphe Country Club.
His wife, Michelle Louviere, went to nearby Acadiana High School and then
starred on the golf team at Louisiana State University from 1995-1998. As a
result, he has plenty of family and friends in his gallery as he attempts
to regain full membership on the PGA TOUR – a spot he has held since 1999.
“Club pro David Church has always been nice and allowed me to come out here
and practice,” said Riley. “I play out here all the time when I’m visiting
the In-Laws.”
His familiarity with the course showed on Thursday, as he posted seven
birdies – including a stellar 4-under 32 on the opening nine holes – and
just one bogey (No. 14). A 20-foot birdie putt on the par-4 fourth hole and
15-foot birdie putts on Nos. 8 & 11 highlighted the former Ryder Cup
player’s day.
“I played really good today,” said Riley, who won his first Nationwide Tour
event last year at the Rochester Area Charities Showdown at Somerby.
After a fairly calm start to the round, sustained winds picked up and
ranged from 15-20 mph throughout the remainder of the day, with gusts
reaching 32 mph.
“It was definitely an advantage teeing off early today,” said Riley, winner
of the 2002 Reno-Tahoe Open. “We were able to play about four or five holes
before the winds picked up. I’ve always seemed to play pretty good in the
wind. I’m a low-ball hitter … so the wind doesn’t touch my ball all that
much.”
While Riley would have preferred to be teeing it up at the Zurich Classic
of New Orleans this week, he was more than happy to have a close
alternative (Lafayette sits just 130 miles away from the Crescent City) on
the Tour he first played in 1998.
“This is like a home tournament for me,” said Riley, a 34-year-old native
of San Diego, CA.
First Round News & Notes: Jose de Jesus Rodriguez failed to show for his
tee time and was replaced by veteran Ben Bates. Bates, who is just 13
tournaments away from having the most starts in Tour history, was out on
the course serving as a caddie for Tour pro John Morse when he got the call
that the spot was open. A hasty trip to the car to retrieve his golf clubs
and shoes ensued, and 10 minutes later he was teeing it up in his 358th
career Nationwide Tour event. He ended the day with a 2-over 73 … Tommy
“Two Gloves” Gainey recorded an even-par 71 on Thursday, but signed for a
2-over 73 and thus had to settle for the higher score. Gainey posted
birdie-3s on Nos. 4 & 9, but signed for pars … Paul Claxton (72) had a
hole-in-one on the 206-yard third hole with a 4-iron. It was the first ace
at the tournament since Sean O’Hair performed the feat on the sixth hole in
2005. Claxton has had 21 aces during his golfing career, including
recreational, amateur and professional play … Dave Rummells withdrew
following a first round 78 with dizziness (inner ear) … It wasn’t a good
opening day for the six past champions participating in the Chitimacha
Louisiana Open. 2001 winner Paul Claxton had the best showing with a 1-over
72, while the others included 1996 winner Paul Stankowski (83), 1997
champion Joe Daley (76), 2004 winner Jimmy Walker (75), 2005 victor Ryan
Hietala (80) and 2007 champion Skip Kendall (77) … The first-round leader
at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open has gone on to win just three times in the
previous 16 years of the tournament, including Sean Murphy in 1992, Joe
Daley in 1997 and Brett Wetterich in 2003.
over Jeff Klauk at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by Dynamic
Industries – the first domestic tournament of the season on the Nationwide
Tour. Monday Qualifier Andrew Dresser and PGA TOUR rookie Travis Perkins
sit just two shots behind.
Riley, who is fresh off of a 21st place finish at last week’s PGA TOUR stop
in Puerto Rico, is a local favorite at the par-71 Le Triomphe Country Club.
His wife, Michelle Louviere, went to nearby Acadiana High School and then
starred on the golf team at Louisiana State University from 1995-1998. As a
result, he has plenty of family and friends in his gallery as he attempts
to regain full membership on the PGA TOUR – a spot he has held since 1999.
“Club pro David Church has always been nice and allowed me to come out here
and practice,” said Riley. “I play out here all the time when I’m visiting
the In-Laws.”
His familiarity with the course showed on Thursday, as he posted seven
birdies – including a stellar 4-under 32 on the opening nine holes – and
just one bogey (No. 14). A 20-foot birdie putt on the par-4 fourth hole and
15-foot birdie putts on Nos. 8 & 11 highlighted the former Ryder Cup
player’s day.
“I played really good today,” said Riley, who won his first Nationwide Tour
event last year at the Rochester Area Charities Showdown at Somerby.
After a fairly calm start to the round, sustained winds picked up and
ranged from 15-20 mph throughout the remainder of the day, with gusts
reaching 32 mph.
“It was definitely an advantage teeing off early today,” said Riley, winner
of the 2002 Reno-Tahoe Open. “We were able to play about four or five holes
before the winds picked up. I’ve always seemed to play pretty good in the
wind. I’m a low-ball hitter … so the wind doesn’t touch my ball all that
much.”
While Riley would have preferred to be teeing it up at the Zurich Classic
of New Orleans this week, he was more than happy to have a close
alternative (Lafayette sits just 130 miles away from the Crescent City) on
the Tour he first played in 1998.
“This is like a home tournament for me,” said Riley, a 34-year-old native
of San Diego, CA.
First Round News & Notes: Jose de Jesus Rodriguez failed to show for his
tee time and was replaced by veteran Ben Bates. Bates, who is just 13
tournaments away from having the most starts in Tour history, was out on
the course serving as a caddie for Tour pro John Morse when he got the call
that the spot was open. A hasty trip to the car to retrieve his golf clubs
and shoes ensued, and 10 minutes later he was teeing it up in his 358th
career Nationwide Tour event. He ended the day with a 2-over 73 … Tommy
“Two Gloves” Gainey recorded an even-par 71 on Thursday, but signed for a
2-over 73 and thus had to settle for the higher score. Gainey posted
birdie-3s on Nos. 4 & 9, but signed for pars … Paul Claxton (72) had a
hole-in-one on the 206-yard third hole with a 4-iron. It was the first ace
at the tournament since Sean O’Hair performed the feat on the sixth hole in
2005. Claxton has had 21 aces during his golfing career, including
recreational, amateur and professional play … Dave Rummells withdrew
following a first round 78 with dizziness (inner ear) … It wasn’t a good
opening day for the six past champions participating in the Chitimacha
Louisiana Open. 2001 winner Paul Claxton had the best showing with a 1-over
72, while the others included 1996 winner Paul Stankowski (83), 1997
champion Joe Daley (76), 2004 winner Jimmy Walker (75), 2005 victor Ryan
Hietala (80) and 2007 champion Skip Kendall (77) … The first-round leader
at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open has gone on to win just three times in the
previous 16 years of the tournament, including Sean Murphy in 1992, Joe
Daley in 1997 and Brett Wetterich in 2003.
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