Jason Kokrak
Jason Kokrak and Daniel Chopra posted 8-under 63s and share the first-round lead in the Miccosukee Championship.
Kokrak, who was born in North Bay, Ont., before moving to the United States, won last month at the Albertsons Boise Open. He was the first player off the tee in the morning and put together a bogey-free effort that held up for most the opening round until Chopra dunked a wedge from 112 yards on the final hole for an eagle-2 and a tie for first place.
"This makes dinner taste better, that's all it does for me," said Chopra who won earlier this year at the Fresh Express Classic back in April. "It's just a number on the board now."
Brett Wetterich heads a group of six players tied for third at 6-under 65. The 38-year old got a call in the pre-dawn hours that his wife was going into labor some 1,100 miles away in Cincinnati, Ohio. He managed to post a bogey-free round that included four straight birdies to close out the round. It wasn't until he sat down to lunch when he got the call that his wife had just given birth to the couple's second child, and first son.
"If I was 10th on the money list or better, I probably wouldn't have come this week," said Wetterich, who is No. 24 with only three weeks left in the season. "I'm not in that position and this is a critical point in the year. We talked about it and we came up with a plan. She knows I need to be here, even though I'd rather be there."
Jon Mills of Belleville, Ont., eagled the par-5 16th to bring him back to even par for the day with a round of 71.
Jamie Lovemark, the 2010 Nationwide Tour Player of the Year, is making his first start in several months. Lovemark has been plagued by back problems and hasn't played since he withdrew after shooting an 80 in the opening round of the PGA's Shell Houston Open. Lovemark shot a 1-over 72 on Friday and is T108.