• McGladrey Classic, Round One

Love at home as Owen makes waves at Sea Island

ESPN staff
October 18, 2012
Davis Love III is at home at Sea Island © Getty Images
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McGladrey Classic Leaderboard

Davis Love III made the most of home advantage as he made a bright start at the McGladrey Classic in Georgia.

Love, who is hosting the event at Sea Island Golf Club, shot an opening round 65 to keep himself within touching distance of the leaders.

The American Ryder Cup captain, who admits he is still struggling to sleep after he saw his US side throw away a convincing lead at Medinah last month, showed no signs of fatigue as he fired five birdies to reach the turn in 30. Although his round faltered in the closing stages, it was enough to keep Love in the mix.

Love, who is bidding to finish inside the top 100 on the PGA Tour money list for a 27th straight season, is joined on five-under par by Zach Johnson and David Toms.

He is three strokes off the pace of leaders Bud Cauley and Marco Dawson who are both on course to secure a maiden PGA Tour title after shooting opening rounds of 62. After a bogey-free front nine, Cauley rolled in six birdies on a sparkling back nine to propel himself up the leaderboard.

Englishman Greg Owen is hot on their heels after shooting a bogey-free round of 64. Starting on the back nine, a chip for birdie at the 11th set the tone for his round, and he picked up another shot at the 15th. Further birdies at 1, 3, 4 and 7 followed as he took the clubhouse lead.

"I'm working really hard this week and it's starting to pay off. Just more of what I expect," Owen said.

Jim Furyk started with a solid opening 66, while defending champion Ben Crane sits on two-under.

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