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Fujikawa is 4 shots off the lead in Puerto Rico Open


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POSTED: Friday, March 13, 2009

RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico » Monday qualifier Derek Lamely and 20-year-old Australian Jason Day shot 6-under 66s in windy, sometimes rainy conditions yesterday to share the first-round lead in the Puerto Rico Open.

Moanalua High senior Tadd Fujikawa shot a 70, and defending champion Greg Kraft had a 71.

The 28-year-old Lamely, from Fort Myers, Fla., is trying to become the first Monday qualifier to win a PGA Tour event since Fred Wadsworth in the 1986 Southern Open.

“;This is what I've been trying to do for forever,”; said Lamely, playing in his fourth PGA Tour event since turning pro six years ago. “;It is a long week. Having to go Monday qualifying makes it a longer week—but it's great.”;

Day, making the 39th start of his career, has held the first-round lead one other time, in the 2008 Canadian Open.

Michael Bradley, Cliff Kresge, Bart Bryant, Kevin Stadler and Bryce Molder opened with 67s on the Trump International Golf Club course, framed between mountainous rain forest and the white-capped Atlantic.

Bradley, whose last top-10 finish was in the 2000 Michelob Championship at Kingsmill, a span of 64 tournaments, had a simple explanation for his strong play.

“;If you're driving it well and you're keeping it in the fairway, as long as you can control the flight of the golf ball, makes it a little easier,”; Bradley said.

Trio lead in New Zealand

QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand » Americans Josh Teater, Todd Demsey and Alex Prugh shot 7-under 65s to share the first-round lead in the New Zealand Open.

Teater had six birdies in a seven-hole stretch at The Hills to reach 9 under in the event sanctioned by the Australasian and Nationwide tours, but dropped two strokes on the par-4 18th after hitting into two bunkers.

American Martin Piller, Australia's Stephen Dartnall and South Korea's Han Seung-su opened with 67s.