Springfield, MO (Sports Network) - Matt Hendrix fired a 9-under 63 on Thursday
to grab a 1-shot lead after the opening round of the Price Cutter Charity
Championship.
Hendrix, who missed the cut in three of his last five starts, is searching for
his first Web.com Tour win.
Doug Barron and James Nitties are one stroke off the lead at minus-8.
Jason Gore stumbled to a bogey at the last to post 7-under 65. He was joined
in fourth place by Josh Broadaway, Michael Letzig, Scott Harrington, Alex
Aragon, Bronson La'Cassie, Jim Herman, Brian Stuard and Paul Haley II.
Hendrix started on the back nine at Highland Springs Country Club and drained
three straight birdie chances from the 11th. He parred the next five holes to
make the turn at minus-3.
The 31-year-old made eagle on the par-5 first and came right back with birdies
at two and three to jump to 7-under.
Hendrix was within one of the lead at that point. He grabbed a share of the
lead with a birdie on the fifth. Hendrix climbed to minus-9 with a birdie on
the par-5 eighth. He parred the last to lead by one.
"The hole never looks bigger than it actually is, but when I'm putting well
like today, at times it doesn't matter what line I choose, I know they're both
right," Hendrix stated. "It's always been good, but never overly great and
today was great. Out here with weeks like this, you've got to go full
throttle. You've got to aim at every pin."
Barron ran off three birdies in a 4-hole span from the 11th to get his round
going. He birdied the 18th to turn at minus-4. On the front nine, Barron
carded back-to-back birdies from he first and again from the seventh to get to
8-under.
"You might have to go low four days, especially the way these kids play. You
just get on a roll," Barron said. "You have to be patient and you hope you get
two or three in a row here and two or three in a row there. They're going to
shoot these scores all week."
Nitties got on the board with a birdie on the second. He drained three in a
row from the sixth to move to 4-under. Around the turn, Nitties eagled the
11th, then birdied his final two holes to post 64.
NOTES: Defending champion Steve Friesen managed an even-par 72, but is tied
for 120th...Ben Kohles, who has won the last two weeks, posted a 3-under 69
and shares 61st place with a host of other players.
The Sports Network