By Staff & Wire Reports
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Friday October 25, 2002
Arizona men's golfer Ricky Barnes helped the United States get off to a strong start yesterday at the World Amateur Golf Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as he carded a three-under 69 to put the U.S. in the overall lead after the first round of play.
Barnes' three-under 69 combined with teammate Hunter Mahan's four-under 68 to give Team USA a first-round total of 137 (-7) and the overall lead by five strokes. France (142) is in second place, one stroke ahead of five teams tied for third at 143.
No other team in the field of 63 nations had more than one golfer finish under par in yesterday's opening round.
Barnes, a senior from Stockton, Calif., tallied five birdies on the Saujana Golf & Country Club's Palm Course en route to his 69. He was four-under on the back nine, with birdies on No. 10, 14, 15 and 18. Barnes is tied for third individually, trailing countryman Mahan and Colombia's Camilo Villegas, who each carded four-under 68s. Team USA's third player, D.J. Trahan, carded an opening-round 76 (+4) and currently resides in a tie for 57th place.
Competition for the Eisenhower Trophy continues through Sunday. Each nation is represented by a three-man team in the 72-hole event, with the two lowest scores for each team counting towards its total each day.
