Record round boosts Reifers to three-shot lead at Gretzky Classic

CLARKSBURG, Ontario -- Kyle Reifers fired an 11-under-par 61 that included an eight-hole streak of six birdies and two eagles on Thursday to take a three-stroke lead in the first round of the Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic. Robert Tambellini is in the clubhouse at 8 under and Jason Enloe, Craig Bowden and J.J. Killeen finished at 7 under.

Reifers started the day with three pars before playing the next eight holes in 10 under. With a great round going, he knew he had stay in the moment.

"I didn't get ahead of myself out there," he remarked. "Obviously if you have that many circles on the card things are going well. I knew I was swinging it well so I kept thinking about where I was going to put my next shot."

Despite the measured approach, he wasn't apprehensive about pushing himself all the way to the last hole.

"I'm the type of person that thrives on going really low. The way I see it, it's all positive -- there's nothing to be fearful of. Once I get it going out there, I just want to see how low I can go," he said. "Coming down the stretch I just told myself I've done this before."

This is the second time Reifers has shot an 11-under 61 on Tour. The first was an 11-birdie barrage in the fourth round of the 2006 Chattanooga Classic, when made up a seven-stroke deficit and went on to win over Brandt Snedeker in a playoff.

Reifers broke the course record of 62 at Raven Golf Club set by D. A. Points last year. It is also the low round relative to par of the 2009 Tour season, besting Scott Parel's 10-under 62 at the BMW Charity Pro-Am.

Reifers played the eight holes from Nos. 4-11 at 10-under par (birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie). This is the best streak of consecutive holes played under par on both the Nationwide Tour and PGA Tour. Previously, the best birdie-eagle streak on the Nationwide Tour was 9 under in eight holes by Ahmad Bateman at the 1996 Utah Classic.

Omar Urestialso made nine birdies in a row at the 1994 Shreveport Open. Billy Mayfair set the PGA Tour birdie-eagle streak record with a 9-under run in eight holes (seven birdies and one eagle) at the 2001 Buick Open. Briny Baird matched this feat at the 2003 Funai Classic at Walt Disney World. Six players on the PGA Tour have made eight birdies in a row.

The format for the Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic is a 72-hole pro-am. There are 160 professionals paired with amateurs and celebrities in two-person teams. For the professionals there is a 36-hole cut to the low 60 scores and ties.

The amateur competition is reduced to the low 12 teams after the first two rounds (six pro-celebrity teams and six pro-amateur teams). Rounds 1 and 2 alternate between The Georgian Bay Club (7,139 yards / par 71) and Raven Golf Club at Lora Bay (7,105 yards / par 72). The final two rounds are played at Georgian Bay.

Tambellini, also playing at Raven GC, missed one fairway all day and needed only 28 putts to put together his 8-under 64.

"I'm very happy with this round today. I hit it really solid and made a few key putts. Those are the things you have to do to go low," he said. "I'm looking forward to playing Georgian Bay tomorrow. The fairways are more generous off the tee and the greens are a little bit quicker."

Ryan Armour and Cassie Campbell lead the amateur competition with a net score of 16 under par. Campbell was captain of the women's Olympic hockey team in 2002 that earned Canada its first gold medal in the sport in 50 years.

Event host Wayne Gretzky and Derek Gillispie combined for a score of 8 under and are currently in 39th place.

Last year, Justin Hicks finished at 16 under par and won the professional competition in a playoff against Casey Wittenberg. The team of Colt Knost and former hockey star Brett Hull were the pro-celebrity winners with a net score of 50 under par.

The second round begins on Friday at 7:00 a.m. with players going of the first and 10th tees on both courses.

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