Parnevik’s Changes Work for This Day

Only Jesper Parnevik’s unusual style of dress remained the same heading into this week’s Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic in North Carolina.

So far, the changes are paying off.

Parnevik, sporting his trademark baseball cap with the upturned bill, a black shirt and bright red pants, fired a seven-under-par 65 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the tournament at the Forest Oaks Country Club.

Parnevik recorded six birdies and an eagle with a new putter, a new set of irons and a new caddie, part-time touring pro Lance Ten Broeck, one of his close friends. Parnevik fired his longtime caddie, Lorne Duncan, after he was disqualified in last week’s MCI Classic.

Parnevik said rumors that he and Duncan had a bitter disagreement in the aftermath of the disqualification are untrue.

“This was a long run for us. Sometimes, even though you’re very good friends with someone, it’s better to just part,” Parnevik said. “You’re always looking for a change.”

Parnevik missed a short birdie putt on the first hole but rolled in a 30-foot eagle putt on the par-five second. He sank another long birdie putt at the seventh hole and shorter ones at Nos. 8-9 to make the turn one shot off the lead.

Dudley Hart and Steve Lowery were one shot back after first-round 66s.

*

Sergio Garcia made a sparkling start in his pro debut, making birdies on three of the first four holes to briefly lead the Spanish Peugeot Open in Barcelona, Spain.

At the end of a hectic day, the 19-year-old Spaniard, top amateur at the Masters earlier this month, had a five-under-par 67 to sit two strokes behind the five leaders.

“It’s been a very good day,” Garcia said. “I played some great golf, and if I had been a little bit more lucky on the greens it could have been much lower.”

Fellow Spaniards Ignacio Garrido and Juan Carlos Aguero, Sweden’s Max Anglert, and England’s Jamie Spence and Anthony Wall all had 65s.

Jose Maria Olazabal, in his first tournament since winning the Masters, shot a 72.

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In Front

Through Thursday (Complete scores, D16):

GREATER GREENSBORO OPEN--PAR 72

Jesper Parnevik 31-34--65 -7

Dudley Hart 32-34--66 -6

Steve Lowery 31-35--66 -6

Robin Freeman 35-32--67 -5

Jim Furyk 34-33--67 -5

Fred Funk 34-34--68 -4

Sean Murphy 33-35--68 -4

Cameron Beckman 34-34--68 -4

Rocco Mediate 34-34--68 -4

Jeff Maggert 33-35--68 -4

Jerry Kelly 35-34--69 -3

Dennis Paulson 33-36--69 -3

Neal Lancaster 33-36--69 -3

Tim Herron 36-33--69 -3

Emlyn Aubrey 34-35--69 -3

Kirk Triplett 36-33--69 -3

Omar Uresti 35-34--69 -3

Charles Warren 35-34--69 -3

Ted Purdy 32-37--69 -3

Tom Lehman 35-34--69 -3

Chris Perry 35-34--69 -3