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Johnson Leads Pappas Brothers By One In Milwaukee

POSTED: 8:24 pm EDT July 17, 2008

(Sports Network) - Richard S. Johnson fired a seven-under 63 Thursday and has a one-stroke lead after the first round of the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee thanks in part to an ace on the par-three 14th.

The Swede has made just three cuts in 11 starts this year.

Brothers Deane and Brenden Pappas are tied for second place at minus-six.

Dean Wilson, the only player in the top six on the leaderboard with a PGA Tour win, opened with a five-under 65. He was joined in a share of fourth place by Robert Garrigus and Patrick Sheehan.

Kenny Perry, who bypassed the British Open to play this event, posted a three- under 67 in the opening round. He is among a large group of players tied for 17th place.

Johnson got off to a slow start with just two birdies over his opening nine holes. Around the turn, things were completely different. He moved to minus- three with a birdie on the par-three 11th and came right back with a birdie at the 12th.

The Swede moved within one of the lead thanks to a birdie on 13. He followed his run of three straight birdies with a hole-in-one at the par-three 14th.

"I said to the guys out there, it's kind of funny, when it rains, it pours," Johnson stated. "I haven't been putting that good of late, so it was nice to actually hit it close on those holes before the hole-in-one, and then all of a sudden one went in, so it was finally the end of the drought."

His run ended when he parred the 15th, and he tripped to a bogey on the par- four 16th. Johnson atoned for that mistake with a birdie at the last to take the first-round lead for the second time in his PGA Tour career.

Johnson's ace puts him in some pretty elite company. The last player to record an ace on that hole was Tiger Woods, when he made his pro debut at this tournament.

"Wow! That's actually unbelievable that nobody's made it, because it's a pretty accessible green to make one on," said Johnson. "That's always nice to follow him in something."

Brenden Pappas also played the front nine first at Brown Deer Park Golf Course. He tripped to a bogey at the first, but bounced right back with a birdie on two.

The South African caught fire late on the front nine as he ran off four birdies in a five-hole stretch from the sixth.

Pappas carded four straight pars from the 11th. He birdied the 15th and 17th to join Deane Pappas at minus-six.

Deane Pappas started his round on the 10th tee. He got off to a flying start with three birdies in his first four holes. From there, he parred his next six holes.

The 40-year-old jumped to five-under with birdies on two and three. After tripping to a bogey on the fourth, he closed with birdies at six and eight to share second place with his brother.

Defending champion Joe Ogilvie posted a four-under 66. He was joined in seventh place by Steve Flesch, Frank Lickliter, Jesper Parnevik, Marco Dawson, Kent Jones, Cliff Kresge, Jim McGovern, Steve Marino and Kevin Streelman.

Among those Perry shares 17th place with are Bob Tway, Chad Campbell, Briny Baird and Bill Haas.


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