Stadler Junior is surprise leader

It is not unusual to see the Stadler name atop the leaderboard at the Buick Invitational.

This time, however, it does not belong to former champion Craig Stadler, who grew up in nearby San Diego.

Instead, his 24-year-old son, Kevin, fired an eight-under-par 64 at Torrey Pines that was punctuated by a nine-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole of the North course.

Kevin Stadler, who entered the tournament on a sponsor’s exemption, grabbed a one-stroke lead over Sweden’s Jesper Parnevik and Ted Purdy, who also played the easier North course.

Kevin Sutherland shot 66 and was tied for fourth with Tom Lehman, Craig Barlow, Bob Tway and Swede Mathias Gronberg.

Spain’s Sergio Garcia made three consecutive bogeys in the middle of his round on the North course but birdied the last five holes to finish at 67. He is among nine players tied for ninth, a group that includes US Ryder Cup captain Hal Sutton, who had the best score of the day on the South course.

Defending champion Tiger Woods shot 71 on the South course, which will host the 2008 US Open, and three-time Buick champion Phil Mickelson came in at 74.

They were all chasing Stadler, who is playing in his fifth PGA Tour event.

“Certainly, it has not sunk in yet,” said Stadler, who played with his dad last week at Pebble Beach and tied for 61st.

“I walked off the 18th green and I am in (the interview room) all of a sudden.

“It was definitely more relaxing, knowing I did it last week instead of last year. I think it certainly helped calm me down. I was a little nervous on the first hole and the last hole. In between that, I was pretty comfortable.”

It was easy to get comfortable after birdies at the first two holes. He sank an eight-foot putt at number one, then chipped in for birdie after sending his second shot over the green.

Stadler sank a 30-foot putt for birdie at the fourth hole and another from five feet at the eighth to make the turn in 32. He made birdies at numbers 11, 14 and 17 on the back side around his lone bogey at number 15.

Ireland's Darren Clarke is tied for 42nd place on two under par.