Paulson Hopes Fast Start Matters Later

Dennis Paulson ended his first-round problems in a big way in the Buick Classic.

Paulson, who lost a playoff with Duffy Waldorf in this tournament last year, shot a six-under-par 65 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead over Waldorf, Davis Love III and Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez at Harrison, N.Y.

“Leading the first day is no big deal. It doesn’t matter. What matters is not shooting 74, 75, 76,” Paulson said. “Anything in the 60s or under par is a bonus. Leading doesn’t matter until Sunday.”

In his last 11 tournaments, Paulson had opened with only one sub-par round--a 68 at the Masters. In his last four events, he started with three 75s and a 79.

John Maginnes, Skip Kendall and Sweden’s Gabriel Hjertstedt are two strokes back, and Canadian Mike Weir and John Cook topped a nine-player group at 68. Phil Mickelson, a three-time winner this year, and Fred Couples shot 69s.

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South Korean rookie Jeong Jang, a Los Angeles resident, playing in only her eighth LPGA tournament, opened with a two-under-par 70 and was tied with Wendy Doolan for the lead at the Rochester International at New York.

Nine players were one shot off the lead, notably South Korean Se Ri Pak and veteran Dale Eggeling. LaRee Pearl Sugg, back on tour after a three-year absence, had a double-bogey on No. 18 and dropped to a 71.