Claxton, Summerhays lead Q School

LaQuinta, CA – Will Claxton and Daniel Summerhays both fired under 64 on Wednesday to share the first-round lead of PGA Tour Q School.

The six-round marathon for PGA Tour cards in 2012 began on Wednesday. Play rotates between the Nicklaus Tournament Course and TPC Stadium Course at PGA West.

Claxton played the Nicklaus Tournament Course on Wednesday, while Summerhays was at the TPC Stadium Course.

The low 25 after Monday's final round earn PGA Tour cards next season.

The next number of finishers nearest 50 after the Qualifying Tournament graduates will earn fully exempt Nationwide Tour cards for 2012 and the remainder of the field will receive conditional Nationwide Tour status.

There are several big-name, former major champions in the field trying to reclaim past glory.

Tops among them is 2003 PGA Champion Shaun Micheel. He carded a five-under 67 and shares 10th.

Two-time U.S. Open winner Lee Janzen had a one-under 71, while 2001 British Open Champion David Duval and 2002 PGA winner Rich Beem both shot rounds of even-par 72.

William McGirt, a runner-up last year at Q School, former U.S. Ryder Cupper Vaughn Taylor, Billy Hurley III and Sang-Moon Bae are knotted in third place at seven-under 65.

Claxton parred his first six holes on Wednesday, but broke into red figures in a big way with an eagle at the par-five seventh. He parred the next two to make the turn at minus-two.

Claxton kept the strong play going on the back nine. He birdied three in a row from the 10th to reach five-under par, then rattled off three consecutive pars.

Claxton finished up his round spectacularly with three straight birdies at the Nicklaus Tournament Course to earn his share of the lead.

Summerhays, who won on the Nationwide Tour as an amateur in 2007, started on the 10th hole Wednesday at the TPC Stadium Course and birdied the 10th. He added another birdie at the 12th, but lost a stroke with a bogey at the par- three 13th.

The error at 13 would be Summerhays' last in round one. He birdied three in a row from the 14th and made the turn at four-under par. Summerhays parred the first two holes on his second nine, but picked up back-to-back birdies at three and four to get to minus-six.

Summerhays parred Nos. 5 and 6, then birdied Nos. 7 and 8 to join Claxton atop the leaderboard. He parred his last to stay at that spot.

Jeff Maggert, a three-time tour winner and three-time American Ryder Cupper, Mark Anderson and Steven Bowditch each shot six-under 66s and are tied for seventh place.

NOTES: Claxton played this year's Transitions Championship on the PGA Tour and tied for 67th...He had one top 20 on the Nationwide Tour in 2011...Summerhays made eight cuts in 29 starts this year on the PGA Tour...Former Ryder Cuppers Brett Wetterich (72) and Boo Weekley (74) are also in the field.