Parnevik recovers to shoot career best in Texas

Jesper Parnevik overcame an opening bogey to shoot a career best nine-under-par 61 at LaCantera Golf Course to open up a four stroke lead at the Texas Open today.

Starting on the back nine, Parnevik bogeyed the 10th but quickly responded with a birdie at the 11th before carding five more to reach the turn at five-under-par.

Parnevik, looking for his first PGA Tour victory since the 2001 Honda Classic, added five more on the front nine, including back-to-back birdies to finish his round.

“I putted well all day. I hit two great shots into 10 but came up short and didn’t get it up and down and started with a bogey,” said Parnevik. “But normally that’s when the panic sets in a little bit, and you think you’re going to have a really lousy day. I felt good about the game, good about the putter and I made birdie on the next hole and that was it.”

Robert Gamez, Justin Leonard, Mathias Gronberg, Bob Tway, Matt Hendrix, Neal Lancaster, Shigeki Maruyama, Daniel Chopra, Richard S. Johnson and Dan Forsman are all tied for second at five-under 65.

Chad Campbell, who won the Viking Classic last week, is among a group of 12 a further shot adrift.