1999 Buick Invitational - Thursday Notes
Ted Tryba Leads By One Over Four Others
by Martin Olivera

Ted Tryba leads the tournament after shooting a 65 on the "new" North Course today. His 7-under, product of 6 birdies, an eagle, with only one bogey, in one better than the 66's shot by Chris Perry -- low round on the South Course -- and Bob Burns, Wayne Levi and Katsumasa Miyamoto, who played the North Course. It's Tryba's best round at Torrey Pines in his seventh participation, and only the second time he breaks 70 in fifteen rounds. He only made one cut in his previous six tournaments, tieing for 69th in 1994 with and opening round 67. He drove the ball well (10 of 14 fairways), and putted well (28 putts), and when a player does that good scores happen. "I was fortunate to get a lot of things done," said Tryba. "I hit the ball solid all day," he added. He hit 16 greens in regulation and was 4-under on the par-5 holes, fortunately.

Even though one shot back, Chris Perry's 66 on the South Course is perhaps more significant than Tryba's 65. Perry started with a bogey on his third hole (12th) but birdied his 7th and 9th, which was followed by birdies on five of the first six holes on the back side (holes 2nd through 6th) to close the side with a 31. "The whole key for me is putting. But I really focused a lot on keeping in the fairway today", said Perry. Tomorrow he'll be playing the easier North Course.

Only three of the five new tees are in use this week on the North Course. The 9th, 11th, and 13th holes were lengthened in order to make the scoring on that course a bit closer to the tougher South. Still, the 6th hole was the toughest hole today, just as it was last year (3.364 average, 7 double-bogeys and one triple-bogey), #13 was ranked 7th in difficulty (4.026) and #11 was ranked 2nd (4.256). The North Course played to an average of 70.683, which is about one shot higher than the 1998 overall average. The South played to a 72.325, which is about the same average of last year.

Defending champion Scott Simpson shot 71 (South), and Tiger Woods, who played the North Course starting on the 10th hole, followed an even par 36 (all pars) front side, with a 4-under 32 on the back, for a 68.

First Round Notes

  • Locals: Phil Mickelson shot 72 (South) and beat his brother Tim, who shot 79 (South). Tim qualified as an amateur. Dennis Paulson from Vista shot 67 (North).Craig Stadler, 1994 Buick Invitational champion, shot 71 (South). Chris Riley, son of City Amateur Champion and Torrey Pines member Mike Riley, shot 72 (North), and local pro and Nike Tour member Chris Strakjohann shot 76 (South).

  • There were 13 eagles today. Nine on the North Course -- 6 on #18, 2 on #14, and one on the par 4 #2 --, and four on the South Course, all on #18.

  • Shot of the day: Wayne Levi holed a 110-yard pitching wedge for an eagle 2 on the par 4 second hole, North Course.

  • First Round Casualties: Brent Schwarzrock withdrew and was replaced by alternate Tim Loustalot. Dudley Hart also withdrew, after nine holes, due to a muscle injury. Yoshinori Mizumaki missed his tee time and was disqualified.

  • Monday Pro-Am: Winner were Steve Jurgensen (Professional), and Bill Constantine, Nick Constantine, Sam Constantine, and Jim Stanko (amateurs)

  • Wednesday Pro-Am: Winners were the teams of professionals Frank Lickliter (North Course), and Jay Haas (South Course).

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