Dawson Seeking an Extension

Marco Dawson sees his future in Justin Leonard’s past: a strong finish to a golf season that will get him at least a couple of more years on the PGA Tour.

With the season running short and facing the prospect of returning to qualifying school yet again, Dawson shot a seven-under-par 64 Thursday to grab the first-round lead at the Texas Open in San Antonio.

A victory would earn him a two-year exemption on the tour, something he probably considered a long shot last year when a ruptured disk in his back made it too painful to pick up a ball, let alone swing a club.

“It could happen,” he said of his chances of winning this week. “Maybe it’s my turn here or I’ll have a good three weeks or so.”

He was good Thursday, firing a bogey-free round at La Cantera Golf Club.

Leonard, the defending champion, and Jay Williamson were a shot off the lead, while Scott McCarron, Carl Paulson, Bob Burns and Brandel Chamblee were at five-under.

Even with the Ryder Cup matches postponed until next year, the tournament drew only a handful of the game’s biggest names and only three Ryder Cup players: Sweden’s Jesper Parnevik and Americans David Toms and Hal Sutton.

Dawson was given a medical extension for the tour this year after his surgery in May 2000. The extension required him to earn $346,785 in his first 20 tournaments this year.

Through 14 events this season, he’s about $200,000 short. His best finish was a tie for 16th at the Shell Houston Open in April.

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South Korea’s Mi Hyun Kim, seeking her fourth LPGA Tour victory, shot a seven-under 65 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the AFLAC Champions at Mobile, Ala.

Dottie Pepper was second after a 67. Pepper, who lost on the first hole of a playoff with Australia’s Karrie Webb last year, bogeyed the final hole.

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Steve Haskins shot a 10-under 62 to take the first-round lead at the Buy.com Inland Empire Open at Rancho Cucamonga.

Casey Martin is eight strokes back and tied with 20 others after his first-round 70.