Eagle Helps Pate Grab Lead in Colorado

Steve Pate capitalized on a five-point eagle and favorable playing conditions to forge a first-round lead Thursday in the International at Castle Rock, Colo.

Pate finished with 11 points under the modified Stableford scoring system used in this event. He was a point ahead of Billy Mayfair and Rich Beem.

Duffy Waldorf, Australian John Senden, Heath Slocum, Hank Kuehne and Jeff Quinney were at nine.

Players earned five points for an eagle, two for birdie, zero for par, minus-one for bogey and minus-three for double bogey or worse.

Golfers with morning tee times--including Waldorf and Senden--had to contend with swirling winds and hard, fast greens at Castle Pines Golf Club. Conditions improved in the afternoon, and so did scores.

“I went out for a newspaper this morning and it was cold and windy,” Pate said. “I was glad I wasn’t playing until this afternoon. We got the better of it.”

A member of the 1999 Ryder Cup team, Pate slumped to 151st on the PGA Tour money list in 2001, partly because of a back injury. He ranks 152nd this year.

“I’ve played well the last six weeks, so this round doesn’t really surprise me,” he said.

Senden, who took a double bogey on the eighth hole and had zero points through 13, finished with a flourish. He eagled the par-five 14th hole, then tacked on birdies at Nos. 15 and 17.

Two-time International winner Phil Mickelson was at minus-two.

Defending champion Tom Pernice Jr. had five double bogeys and fell to minus-nine.

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British Open champion Ernie Els withdrew from next week’s Buick Open at Grand Blanc, Mich.

Els’ withdrawal came one day after Mickelson, the No. 2-ranked golfer in the world, announced he would play in the $3.3-million PGA Tour event at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club.