HOUSTON, March 28 (UPI) -- Unheralded Jim Carter shot a 7-under-par 65 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the $4 million Houston Open.
Esteban Toledo of Mexico is alone in second place after a 66 while Vijay Singh of Fiji headlines a group of six golfers who fired 5-under 67s and are two shots off the pace.
The PGA Tour has yet to have a repeat winner this season and the list of unexpected champions includes Craig Perks, who last week claimed an improbable victory at one of the world's most elite tournaments --The Players Championship.
The Houston Open has less prestige, but that does not matter to Carter, a 30-year-old North Carolina native who recorded his lone PGA victory at the 2000 Tucson Open. He took a step toward another win Thursday with a bogey-free round that included birdies on Nos. 15, 16 and 17.
There has been plenty of mediocre golf this season from Carter, who missed the cut twice and has finished no better than 23rd. He found his stroke at the TPC at the Woodlands, hitting a series of long drives and using solid iron play to set up short birdie putts at the 16th and 17th holes.
Carter is trying to become the first first-round leader to win this event since David Graham in 1983.
The Houston Open allows another week of preparation for the Masters. The BellSouth Classic begins April 4 in Duluth, Ga., with the first major of the season scheduled for the following week.
Among those using it as a tuneup is Singh, a former Masters champion who missed the cut at The Players Championship. After parring the entire front nine on Thursday, he caught fire with six birdies and a bogey on the back nine.
Scott Verplank, Chris Riley, J.P. Hayes, Brian Bateman and Jay Haas also are in the group at 5-under. Fred Couples and Nick Price are among seven golfers who carded 68s.
With Tiger Woods taking the week off, more of the spotlight is on Perks, who settled for a 74 on Thursday.
Despite being ranked outside the top 200, the 35-year-old earned the $1.08 million first prize last week and a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour, including the next three Masters and each of this year's majors.
Defending champion Hal Sutton shot an inconsistent 72 with four birdies and four bogeys.
