Hatalsky Gets Eagle, Takes 2-Stroke Lead

Morris Hatalsky scored an eagle-2 on his way to a wind-blown, five-under-par 66 Thursday for a two-stroke lead in the first round of the $500,000 Hertz Bay Hill golf tournament.

Hatalsky hit a 180-yard 2-iron shot into a gusty wind and into the cup for the eagle on the 10th hole at the Bay Hill Club.

“It was a rewarding round because of the tough conditions,” said Hatalsky, who played in winds gusting up to 25 m.p.h.

Mark McCumber was in second place with a 68, while Buddy Gardner was alone at 69. Fuzzy Zoeller was tied at 70 with five others.

Former PGA champion Hal Sutton scored a hole-in-one with a 3-iron shot on the 17th. But the ace came a few days too early. The sponsors have offered a $500,000 prize for an ace on that hole--but only if accomplished in Sunday’s final round.