California State Open: First Day results

TEMECULA, Calif. (Sept. 28, 2007)-- Nathan Smith posted a flawless opening round of 7-under-par 65 to take the first round lead as darkness halted at the 2007 California State Open Golf Championship being held at Redhawk Golf Club in Temecula with 18 players still on the course. Smith, 24, of Soquel, California, carded seven birdies en route to his strong opening round, but it was the ones that got away that kept his round from really being special. Smith missed short birdie putts on the first two five pars of the day and lipped out a birdie putt at 18. "I was in good positions on the greens," said Smith. "I was really happy with how I played. I like this course. There are a couple of holes that you have to think your way around and I like that." Nick Jones may have had the shot of the day when his drive at the 366-yard, par-4, 15th hole found the bottom of the hole for a rare hole-in-one. "I just kinda had nothing going," said Jones who posted a four-under-par round of 68. "The caddy said let's just get it up there and see what we can do. I just swung it hard and hit it good. I kinda just scrapped it around. I started hitting it pretty good at the end and didn't make as many putts." The defending champion, Ji-Hwan Park of Fullerton showed that last year was no fluke as he fired a 6-under-par round of 66 to put him only one-shot back. Tennis champion Michael Chang turned in a round of six-over-par 78. Players who did not finish will return to the course at 7:15 a.m. to complete the first round prior to the start of the second round. The field includes past champions Mark Wurtz of La Quinta (1992), Jeff Hart of Solana Beach (1994), Eric Meichtry or Murrieta (2005) and the defending champion Ji-Hwan Park of Fullerton. Park was the first Korean born champion and at age 17, was believed to be the youngest champion in the long and illustrious history of the championship. Some of the more notable past champions include Hagen (1915), Horton Smith (1934), Olin Dutra (1940), Lloyd Mangrum (1952), Gene Littler (1954), Jerry Barber (1959), Roger Maltbie (1974), Dennis Paulson (1990 & '96), Kirk Triplett (1991) and Jason Gore (1997 & '04). The Championship is contested over 54-holes of stroke play. There will be a cut to the low 50 players and ties after 36 holes. The California State Open Golf Championship is owned by the Southern California Section of the PGA of America and is managed by Stormon Golf Management. Results from the California State Open Golf Championship at Redhawk Golf Club, Temecula, CA, par 72: First Round - 26 players did not finish due to darkness 65 - Nathan Smith, Soquel, CA (33-32) 66 - Ji-Hwan Park, Fullerton (31-35) 67 - Brett Lederer, Lakewood, CA (34-33) 67 - Amit Chopra, Newport Coast (32-37) 68 - Steve Collins, Ponte Verde Beach, FL (34-34) 68 - Nick Jones, Los Angeles (34-34) 69 - Jerry Chen, Rancho Cucamonga (32-37) 69 - Mark Warman, San Clemente (34-35) 69 - Pete Vilairtana, Highland (36-33) 69 - Ewan Porter, Spokane, WA (34-35) 69 - Steve Conway, Murrieta (34-35) 69 - Brad Stormon, Temecula (33-36) 69 - Tyler Williamson, Decatur, AL (32-27) 70 - Ajay Shah, Oceanside (33-37) 70 - Eric Wang, Cypress (33-37) 70 - Todd Vernon, San Francisco (34-36) 70 -Mike Miles, Long Beach (34-36) 70 - Byron Shlagenhauf, Aliso Viejo (36-34) 71 - Brain Mahoney, Palm Desert (36-35) 71 - Jeff Hart, Solana Beach (37-34) 71 - Chris Starkjohann, Encinitas (37-34) 71 - Jon Chaffee, Scottsdale, AZ (36-35) 71 - Joey Citro, Alhambra (35-36) 71 - Spencer Levin, Elk Grove (36-35) 71 - Joe Skovron, Murrieta (35-36) 71 - Michael Block, Aliso Viejo (37-34) 71 - Greg Bruckner, Phoenix, AZ (36-35) 71 - Joe Lanza, Lafayette (37-34) 71 - Hyun Joo Cha, Temecula (36-35) 71 - David Hahn, Dana Point (36-35)