Golf

By SHANE STARK Staff Writer

Perry Arthur of Plano wasn’t exactly thrilled with his opening round.

“I sucked,” he laughed.

But Arthur has no reason to feel down, considering he’s played only two rounds in two weeks.

He also has added another notch to his armor on the links, having recorded an ace on the second hole — the eighth hole-in-one of his career.

Arthur used a 6-iron on the 177-yard hole.

The Dairy Palace in Canton hails itself as “world famous,” but at least one Canton native had never heard of the beloved burger joint.

That would be...Canton, Ga. native.

Thomas Baker, in second place after the opening round, stopped at the DP en route to Tyler for the Open. He said residents in his hometown wouldn’t know the place from a burger barn, but that didn’t stop him from finding a new fave along I-20.

“I told my brother that we have a new lunch spot here,” Baker said. “It was good.”

Baker, who has split time between living in Georgia and Dallas, is a former member of the Paris Junior College golf team. He once played a tournament at Canton’s Twin Lakes Golf Course.

As for The Cascades, “It was tough,” Baker said. “On the front nine you have to hit a lot of fairways. If you miss a fairway...you are probably going to miss a green.”

Former champions found the going rough for the most part on the first day of the 38th Texas State Open.

Five past winners, representing six of the previous 37 titles, participated Thursday.

Clark Dennis, the 1992 winner, was the only one to shoot under par with a 1-under 69.

Two-time winner Brad Lardon of Bryan carded a 4-over 74. Meanwhile Casey Devoll, the two-time champion (1995-96) from Arlington, matched Lardon’s 74.

Lardon, a father of four, entered the event with impressive credentials. The former Rice golfer spent six seasons on the PGA Tour in 1991, 1994, and from 2002-05. Lardon, the director of golf at Miramont Country Club in Bryan, currently leads the points list for Southern Texas PGA Player of the Year.

Carl Baker, the 1987 champion, ended the day 15 strokes over par at 85.

— Harold Wilson

Bryan Baker and Cody Massa led Tylerites in the first round, with both closing the day at 3-over 73 to tie for 66th.

The two hold hopes of making the 55-player cut, which includes ties. After 18 holes, the top 55 rounded off at 2 over.

Other Tyler golfers competing on the first day included B.J. Waters (74), Reggie Howell (75), Ryan Sirman (77) and Chase Wood (81).

— Harold Wilson