March 9, 2001

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC — Tom McCauley(i.e. T.), a rookie, made three pars and one birdie in his first competitive round at the Carl Spackler Open on Thursday to shoot 91, 19-over-par, and take a 3-point lead over Matt Davis(i.e. Pokey) with 27 points.  Mike Trojonowski(i.e. Troj) is one point back from Davis at 23 points.

"I was just thinking about how cool it would be to be in that position Saturday afternoon," T. said about leading the Open. "That was maybe the only time I got ahead of myself all day.

"It was just pretty neat."  For the time being, T. isn't concerning himself with his lack of experience and course knowledge.

"Experience is obviously very big," he said. "I would love to have three or four years behind me. But I don't so I can't harp on the fact. I've just got to go out and just play golf."

Troj had something else to say.  "The golf course is set up awfully difficult," Trojonowski said. "You're going to have to make a lot of 15-foot putts if you want to make bogeys and I didn't do that."

Trojonowski uses an unconventional "claw" putting grip but there was nothing unconventional about his game in an impressive opening round.  He had six 8's, three 7's, seven 6's, but was extremely solid on Hole #12 and Hole #13 where he recorded double-bogey, bogey, and made two key putts.

Troj allowed himself a small smile on the 13th green after draining a 6-footer for bogey.

"I didn't leave it on the wrong side of the hole," said Trojonowski, 30, who is looking for his inaugural Carl Spackler Open Championship.