By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
MIAMI, Okla. — Spicing his round with four consecutive birdies, Rhein Gibson carded a 6-under-par 66 Thursday afternoon to claim the first-round lead in the seventh Buffalo Run Casino Classic at the Peoria Ridge Golf Course.
Rhein, from Edmond, Okla., owns a one-stroke advantage over five players, and 11 more are two strokes back.
Sharing second place are Jason Dillard, Nathan Stamey, Travis Bertoni, Joey Lamielle and Pablo Acuna.
Ted Potter, this season’s tour money leader, and Cody Freeman, former northeast Oklahoma resident, and defending champion Jeff Corr were in a large group at 2-under 70.
Andrew Giuliani, the son of former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, matched par-72 in his inaugural event on the NGA Hooters Tour, good for a share of 63rd place.
The field will be cut to the low 60 and ties after today’s second round.
Windier conditions that normal sent scores skyward., Gibson’s 66, which had nine birdies and three bogeys in his 32-34 round, was the highest opening-round score in tourney history.
“I think the conditions are good,” Freeman said. “Obviously it’s a little breezy, but it makes the golf course play a little more tougher and a little more challenging. It makes you hit a little more quality shot. I like it.”
Temperatures rose above 90 degrees before noon, but the breeze made conditions tolerable.
“It’s supposed to be hot this week, but we have a nice breeze,” Freeman said. “That keeps you a little cooler. Obviously later in the afternoon, it’s going to be warm.”
Gibson, playing in the first group of the day off No. 1, birdie the second hole, then ran off consecutive birdies on 7, 8, 9 and 10 to jump to 5-under.
After a bogey on 12, Gibson birdied the 12th and 13th to claim the tournament lead. He offset bogeys on 15 and 16 with birdies on the final two holes.
Acuna and Stamey posted the only bogey-free rounds among the leaders. Stamey holed out for an eagle-2 on the 16th hole.
Sports
Gibson's 66 leads Buffalo Run Classic
- Sports
-
-
Kickapoo girls race past Joplin
Annie Armstrong poured in 21 points to lead the Kickapoo girls to a 65-28 victory over Joplin on Thursday night in an Ozark Conference basketball game at Missouri Southern’s Young Gymnasium.
-
Cheever is ultimate blue-collar snowboarder
As a World Cup snowboardcross racer, Jonathan Cheever has taken his share of spills over the years.
-
District wrestling tournaments begin tonight
Neosho’s wrestling lineup will have a different look when the Class 3 district wrestling tournament begins at 6 p.m. today at Carthage.
-
Late board work carries Lions past Pittsburg State
Pittsburg State displayed its offensive rebounding muscle during Wednesday night’s game at Missouri Southern.
-
Pitching holds key for softball Lions
Pitching is the main question Missouri Southern must answer as the Lions open their softball season today in Abilene, Texas.
-
Quapaw completes 12-0 run through Lucky '7' Conference
Quapaw High School girls basketball coach Rod Graves expected the 2011-12 Wildcats to compile another successful season.
They haven’t been a disappointment. -
Hillsdale women stop OCC
Visiting Hillsdale Free Will Baptist handed Ozark Christian a 68-47 loss in women’s college basketball on Thursday night.
-
Tomlin, Steelers welcome Haley as new coordinator
Throughout the 16 minutes that followed him glowingly introducing former Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley as his new offensive coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stood proudly in the corner of the second-floor media room at the team’s facility.
-
Rangers, Cruz strike $16M, 2-year deal
Two-time defending AL champion Texas has avoided arbitration with another of its core players, agreeing Thursday to a $16 million, two-year contract with AL championship series MVP Nelson Cruz.
-
Auburn’s Ward adapts game after injury at Texas
Auburn’s Varez Ward can’t take to the air quite like he used to. The onetime Texas starter is still trying to regain strength and explosiveness more than two years after rupturing his right quadriceps tendon while dunking during pre-game warmups.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
