HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C., April 17 (UPI) -- Mired in a prolonged slump, Craig Barlow carded a 28 on the front nine to complete a 6-under par 65 that gave him a one-shot lead over Davis Love III and John Senden after the first round of The Heritage.
Barlow's 28, which included a pair of eagles, came out of nowhere. In his first nine starts this year, he missed six cuts and finished no higher than a tie for 65th. He came into this week having earned just $26,430.
The 30-year-old Nevada native experienced a full range of emotions as he bogeyed three of the first six holes on the back and made the turn at 2-over.
Barlow apparently enjoys living on the edge. Last year, he barely retained his card, finishing 124th on the money list. He got off to a late start after undergoing hip and shoulder surgery in September 2001.
Prior to this week, Barlow missed three straight cuts and shot an 80 in the last round at the BellSouth Classic.
Ten players shot 67, including Rocco Mediate, Tom Pernice Jr., Hal Sutton and Stewart Cink. Rod Pampling dropped out of a tie for second by bogeying his final hole.
Love, who won the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in February and The Players Championship in March, was the early leader in the clubhouse before Barlow raced past him.
Among those at 3-under 68 was Len Mattiace, who lost a playoff to Mike Weir at The Masters last week.
Fifteen years after competing at Augusta National as an amateur, Mattiace missed the best closing round in Masters history by a stroke with a 7-under-par 65. But he finished regulation with a bogey and lost on the first playoff hole.
