Springfield, MO – Steve Friesen's playing in only his second event of 2011, but he's already making a big splash.
Friesen blitzed the field on Thursday, firing a 10-under 62 to grab a two- stroke lead after the opening round of the Price Cutter Charity Championship.
Aiming for his first win since turning pro in 1999, Friesen had a hole-out eagle on the par-four third to go with eight birdies in a spectacular bogey- free round at Highland Springs Country Club.
Gavin Coles, who made the cut last week at the Cox Classic after missing the cut in his previous 12 events, is second at eight-under 64. Coles, 42, is a four-time winner on the Nationwide Tour, but his last victory came in 2008.
Craig Bowden, another struggling player this year, is third at minus-seven. He's missed three straight cuts and has failed to play the weekend in all but three of his 15 events played in 2011; however, he's a three-time winner on tour, with the last coming in 2006.
J.J. Killeen has a lot at stake this week, with a automatic promotion to the PGA Tour in store with another victory. Killeen, who has won each of the last two weeks, stumbled to a two-over 74, which is near the bottom of the leaderboard.
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