Stankowski Leads With 61

Late in the day, Paul Stankowski started thinking about shooting a 59.

He didn’t reach golf’s magic number, but with a course- and tournament-record 61, and a three-stroke lead after the first round of the $4-million Compaq Classic, Stankowski didn’t have anything to complain about Thursday.

“It would have been a nice thing,” said Stankowski, who hasn’t won on the PGA Tour since 1997.

“But it’s the first round and I’m not out here to try to shoot 59, I’m out here to try to win the golf tournament. And I got myself in a good position today.”

Stankowski sizzled over the front nine, making six of his 11 birdies, but didn’t start thinking about how low his score was until the final four holes.

Stankowski birdied the par-five 15th to start talk of a 59--something done on the PGA Tour by only Al Geiberger, Chip Beck and David Duval, and by Annika Sorenstam earlier this year on the LPGA Tour--but parred the final three holes.

Brian Watts and Kenny Perry are three back at 64. Jim Carter, Keith Clearwater and Brian Wilson shot 65s.