Two Share Lead in Puerto Rico


While the WGC-Cadillac Championship is underway in Miami, another PGA Tour event is taking place to the southeast. After 18 holes, two players - Argentina's Andres Romero and Australia's Cameron Percy - are tied for the lead in the Puerto Rico Open. The $3.5 million event began Thursday at Trump International Golf Club - Puerto Rico.

Romero, a 32-year-old with one victory on Tour - the 2008 Zurich Classic of New Orleans - carded seven birdies, an eagle and two bogeys for his 7-under 65. Percy, a 38-year-old who's gone back and forth between the Von Nida, Web.com and PGA tours since turning pro in 1998, posted nine birdies and two bogeys.

One stroke behind the leaders after 6-under 66s are two Americans, Blayne Barber and Jon Curran, while another shot back are Angel Cabrera, Bill Lunde, Steve LeBrun, Brad Fritsch, Justin Bolli, Morgan Hoffman, Brian Stuard, Peter Uihlein and Rafael Campos.

"I'm happy about the way things went," Romero told reporters. "Last week on Thursday I started striking the ball quite well and then played really well on Friday, but it wasn't good enough for me to make the cut.

"I was very pleased at the end, and I practiced a lot over the weekend. I had a good feeling about my game, and today I just felt confident on each and every shot I hit," added Romero, who's missed four cuts in five starts this season. "I felt I couldn't miss, and thank God, I'm putting well again."

Percy was also pleased with his play. "I just drove the ball really nicely," the native of Victoria said. "I've been trying to not hit the ball too hard, so I just hit three-quarters drivers and just kept the ball in play. I did that today and it was quite nice."

Uihlein, the 2011 U.S. Amateur champion, has devoted his energies since turning pro to the European Tour. But this week he's in Puerto Rico while the European Tour is idle due to the World Golf Championships event at Doral. The 23-year-old Massachusetts native had five birdies, an eagle and two bogeys en route to his 5-under effort.

Another decorated American amateur, Jordan Spieth, opened with a 69. The two-time U.S. Junior Amateur champion turned pro in December.

Defending champion George McNeill opened with a 71 and is tied for 64th place.

After opening with a 79, 17-year-old Si-woo Kim withdrew after shooting a 79. In addition to a pair of birdies, the 17-year-old South Korean carded three bogeys and three doubles Thursday. Kim, who earned a Tour card at Q-School but can't join the Tour until he turns 18 in June, was playing this week on a sponsor's exemption.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/puerto-rico-open-presented-by-seepuertorico-com/leaderboard.html.