Edmonton, AB (Sportsbooks) - Brady Stockton and Robert Gates both fired rounds of seven-under 65 on Thursday to share the first-round lead of the Edmonton Open. Liam Kendregan and Jon Turcott both shot 66s in round one and are tied for third place at Glendale Golf and Country Club. Stockton began on the 10th tee and had an up and down opening nine. He recorded six birdies, two bogeys and a single par to make the turn at minus- four. He birdied the first, then grabbed his share of the lead with back-to-back birdies at Nos. 6 and 7. "The putter was working really well but I was doing a lot of scrambling," admitted Stockton. "It seems that every single time I found the fairway, I made birdie, but otherwise, I was scrambling. I seem to be well known for that." Gates had a calmer round than his fellow co-leader. He also began on 10 and bogeyed his first hole. Gates tallied three more birdies on his first nine and added five birdies on the second nine, including three in his last four holes. Last week's ATB Financial Classic winner Graham DeLaet, Garrett Sapp, George Coetzee, Brent Schwarzrock, Jim Rutledge, Danny Sahl and Eugene Smith are knotted in fifth at five-under 67. Defending champion John Ellis managed an even-par 72 and is part of a group tied for 70th place. |
