Southern Open Golf Tournament : First-Round 63 Gives Sluman a 3-Stroke Lead Over Koch

Jeff Sluman, riding a hot streak since winning the PGA Championship 6 weeks ago, shot a 7-under-par 63 Thursday to take a 3-stroke lead over Gary Koch in the first round of the $400,000 Southern Open golf tournament.

The 5-foot 7-inch, 135-pound Sluman had 9 birdies and 2 bogeys on the 6,791-yard Green Island Country Club course, including birdies on 6 of his first 8 holes. All of his front-nine birdies came on putts of 6 feet or less.

Koch, at 66, was a stroke ahead of 10 players bunched at 67. That group included Hale Irwin, Mike Hulbert and Bob Murphy.

At 68 were 10 others, headed by Ed Fiori, Russ Cochran and Bobby Clampett.

Leading money winner Joey Sindelar was at 69, and Larry Nelson and Larry Mize were at 70. Nick Price had a 72 and Payne Stewart a 73. Defending champion Ken Brown and Hal Sutton had 75s.

Sluman, 31, also lipped out two putts, but was content not to question what might have been.

“I’d never say that. I’m not a could, should, would type guy,” said Sluman, who, in his last five tournaments, including the PGA, has earned more than $214,000. That has raised his earnings for the year to $428,635, placing him 16th on the money list.

“I also could have shot a 66 or 68, and I won’t dwell on the fact that I could have shot a 61 or 60,” said Sluman, who finished fourth in the B.C. Open last week.