Overton eyes maiden PGA win

Jeff Overton shot a five-under-par 67 to take a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the Turning Stone Championship in Verona, New York last night.

Overton moved atop the leaderboard with a birdie on the eighth, his penultimate hole after starting the round on the back nine.

Steve Allan and Michael Allen are one shot back after firing 68s. Allan briefly held the clubhouse lead before Overton finished with a flourish, holing three birdies in his final nine holes.

American Tag Ridings, Carlos Franco of Paraguay and Australia's Jason Day are tied in fourth at three under.

Overton, 25, has yet to win a PGA Tour event, with his best finish this year being a tie for ninth at the AT&T National.

He has made the cut 45 times in 75 career events, posting six top-10 finishes - including a second place in 2007.

The field for this week's Fall Series event includes nine players who already have won this season.

Defending champion Steve Flesch, trying to salvage a season which sees him ranked 71st on the money list, is two over after firing a disappointing 74 in the first round.