GOLF UNLV standout shoots 65 to lead U. S. Amateur play

Warren JFK graduate Jason Kokrak had an opening round 75 at Oakmont Country Club.
OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) -- Steve Conway's reaction to Oakmont Country Club was the same as many who just finished their first competitive round at one of America's most feared and unforgiving courses.
Whew, glad that's over.
Conway was the only golfer to shoot under par at Oakmont during the first day of U.S. Amateur stroke play Monday, though 12 did it at the shorter and less-challenging Pittsburgh Field Club.
Even the seemingly ideal weather -- sunny skies and temperatures in the high 70s -- weren't enough to spur low scores at Oakmont. As a result, the leaderboard may be in for a shakeup once those who played the Field Club shift to century-old Oakmont today.
Leading the field
UNLV junior Ryan Moore led the field at 5-under 65 following the first of two days of stroke play that will cut the 312-man field to 64 for match play Wednesday. All those matches will be at 7,171-yard Oakmont, whose fast greens are notorious for their toughness.
"Some of those holes make you uncomfortable," said Conway, one of four UCLA golfers competing.
Conway said he couldn't relax during today's round at the 6,636-yard Field Club, but is glad he played Oakmont on the opening day.
"I was happy with my draw," he said. "I hope now that, going into match play, I know the course better."
Moore's goal is the same as everyone else: somehow get through his round at Oakmont and its faster-than-fast greens and get into match play, where beating the course becomes secondary to beating the opponent.
"I just try to shoot par, because I know par will get me to match play," Moore said.
Moore, a 20-year-old from Puyallup, Wash., won the 2002 U.S. Amateur Public Links championship and finished 45th this spring at the Masters, where he played two rounds with Arnold Palmer.
Two shots behind Moore at 3-under 67 was Zach Atkinson, who had the best opening day score last year at Oakland Hills. Atkinson's early success didn't pay off last summer as he lost early in match play.
At 2-under 68 were Travis Johnson, another UCLA golfer, and Peter Tomasulo, both from Long Beach, Calif.; Jessie Mudd of Louisville, Ky., and Ben Bunny of Australia.
Area golfers
Jason Kokrak of Warren shot 75, Justin Wilson of Ellsworth shot 85 and Jon Smarrelli of New Castle shot 88.
Among other scores of significance was 18-year-old Casey Wittenberg's 78 at Oakmont. Wittenberg, a Walker Cup member and the nation's top-ranked amateur, may have to shoot in the mid-60s at the Field Club to make the cut.
Trip Kuehne, the long hitter from Dallas who lost to Tiger Woods in the 1994 finals, was among six who shot 69 at the Field Club. He is the brother of PGA Tour pro Hank Kuehne, the 1998 Amateur champion, and Kelli Kuehne, the 1995 U.S. Women's Amateur champion.
The youngest golfer, 15-year Jordan Cox of Redwood, Calif., shot a 74 at the Field Club.