Reno-Tahoe Open Notebook: Past champs Riley, MacKenzie in hunt

With the withdrawal of defending champ Matt Bettencourt, seven past RTO champions remain in this year's field.

Two - Chris Riley and Will MacKenzie - shot stellar rounds. Riley shot a 6-under-par 66 while MacKenzie was at 5-under-par 67.

Two-time RTO winner Vaughn Taylor was at 3-under-par 69. Kirk Triplett, who won in 2003, shot a 2-under-par 70. Notah Begay shot a 1-under-par 71, while David Duval (78) and Parker McLachlin (74) both shot over-par rounds. Riley's 67 was his best round at Montreux since his last appearance here in 2009 when he shot a second-round 64 en route to a tie for 17th.

"It's weird to think about (why I play so well here)," Riley said. "Sometimes you just play well at different courses and in different places. I love the greens here and I know what they're going to do."

MacKenzie hasn't set the world on fire lately, but always seems to play well here.

"It's one of those deals where, you know, I haven't played great in the last couple of years but I'm very comfortable here. Even if I come in striking it bad, I feel good here. Usually I end up playing well here, so hopefully I can keep it up.

"I don't feel I'm too far off from my game. I've got to find some focus and get back in it because this is ridiculous. I'm not having fun, and I'm playing ... two tours. I've got to get my game back together."

TWO OTHER

WITHDRAWALS

Besides defending champion Bettencourt, two other players were unable to make it past the first round.

Bill Lunde cited illness for dropping out after 11 holes. Cameron Beckham lasted 13 holes before dropping out because of back problems. Lunde was 7-over-par after a triple bogey at No. 11 and a double bogey at the par-5 17th. Beckman was 4-over-par when he called it quits.

GONZALES, GORDON STRUGGLE

Andres Gonzales and Scott Gordon, both of whom played in the Stage I qualifier at Dayton Golf Club last October, shot over-par rounds on Thursday. Gonzales finished with a 2-over-par 74, while Gordon shot a 5-over-par 77.

Gonzales had just one birdie, a chip-in at the par-3 third.

The Olympia, Wash., resident has been disappointed with his performance thus far.

"It (my performance) has left a lot to be desired," Gonzales said. "I know I'm good enough to be out here.

"I'm where I want to be. I've been having a great time traveling around the country and playing golf."

Gonzales said he has struggled with his putter, and he went to the practice green after his round to work on it.

"That's usually one of my strengths," Gonzales said. "It's been my Achilles (heel) this year."

Gonzales and Gordon appear headed back to qualifying school next year. The top 125 in money keep their card, 126-150 gets a free ride into the final stage, 150 to 200 has to start in the second stage and anybody finishing below 200 on the money list would have to go back to the first stage.

"I'm not thinking about that," Gonzales said. "If I do a good job, I could be (playing) here next year."

TOUGHEST, EASIEST

The 183-yard par-3 7th hole was the most difficult in the first round, playing to an average of 3.281. It yielded nine birdies. There were 28 bogeys and seven double-bogeys. The 518-yard par-5 13th was the easiest hole, playing to an average of 4.688. There were 56 birdies and one eagle compared to just 10 bogeys and one double bogey.

FIRST-ROUND TRIVIA

The longest putt made was 58 feet by Carl Paulson on No. 11 ... Tim Petrovic had the most one-putts on the day with 14 ... Former champs Kirk Triplett and Chris Riley along with Briny Baird led in greens in regulation with 16 ... Jason Schmuhl, of Windsor, Calif., had the longest drive of the day, a 405-yard bomb on No. 18 ... Triplett and Chris DiMarco led in fairways hit with 14... The scoring average for the day was 72.742... There were five eagles in the first round, including two on No. 18... The low amateur was Martin Trainor from USC who carded an even-par 72. Former Fallon and UNR star Scott Smith struggled to a 9-over-par 81.