Gamez leads Texas Open

Robert Gamez fired an eight-under-par 62 to claim a one-shot lead after the first round of the Valero Texas Open.

Gamez fired eight birdies without a bogey and leads a group of three by a stroke.

Looking for his third PGA Tour victory, and first since 1990 when he won twice, Gamez birdied five of his first nine holes, including three in a row starting at the seventh.

Gamez, whose best finish this season is ninth at the Sony Open in January, has missed 11 cuts in 23 events and is 149th on the money list and in desperate need of a strong finish here.

He added three birdies on the back nine and finished with only 22 putts.

“It was a lot of fun and I played pretty well,” Gamez said. “It’s just nice to get off to a good start. It’s been a while since I have had a really good start and been up there. It’s coming down to the end of the year and every round matters more and more.”

Jeff Maggert, John Senden and Woody Austin are a shot off the lead after carding rounds of seven-under 63.

Philip Price, Ted Purdy, David Hearn and Nick Watney each shot 66 while a group of 11 golfers signed for 65, including defending champion Bart Bryant.