Springfield, MO – Matt Hendrix fired a 9-under 63 on Thursday to grab a 1-shot lead after the opening round of the Price Cutter Charity Championship.
Hendrix, who missed the cut in three of his last five starts, is searching for his first Web.com Tour win.
Doug Barron and James Nitties are one stroke off the lead at minus-8.
Jason Gore stumbled to a bogey at the last to post 7-under 65. He was joined in fourth place by Josh Broadaway, Michael Letzig, Scott Harrington, Alex Aragon, Bronson La'Cassie, Jim Herman, Brian Stuard and Paul Haley II.
Hendrix started on the back nine at Highland Springs Country Club and drained three straight birdie chances from the 11th. He parred the next five holes to make the turn at minus-3.
The 31-year-old made eagle on the par-5 first and came right back with birdies at two and three to jump to 7-under.
Hendrix was within one of the lead at that point. He grabbed a share of the lead with a birdie on the fifth. Hendrix climbed to minus-9 with a birdie on the par-5 eighth. He parred the last to lead by one.
"The hole never looks bigger than it actually is, but when I'm putting well like today, at times it doesn't matter what line I choose, I know they're both right," Hendrix stated. "It's always been good, but never overly great and today was great. Out here with weeks like this, you've got to go full throttle. You've got to aim at every pin."
Barron ran off three birdies in a 4-hole span from the 11th to get his round going. He birdied the 18th to turn at minus-4. On the front nine, Barron carded back-to-back birdies from he first and again from the seventh to get to 8-under.
"You might have to go low four days, especially the way these kids play. You just get on a roll," Barron said. "You have to be patient and you hope you get two or three in a row here and two or three in a row there. They're going to shoot these scores all week."
Nitties got on the board with a birdie on the second. He drained three in a row from the sixth to move to 4-under. Around the turn, Nitties eagled the 11th, then birdied his final two holes to post 64.
NOTES: Defending champion Steve Friesen managed an even-par 72, but is tied for 120th...Ben Kohles, who has won the last two weeks, posted a 3-under 69 and shares 61st place with a host of other players.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.