Barnes grabs early lead in Manitoba

Winnipeg, MB (SportsNetwork.com) – Erik Barnes fired an 8-under 63 in the opening round Thursday and grabbed a 1-shot lead at The Players Cup.

Barnes, who is in his second season on the PGA Tour Canada, is coming off a fourth-place finish at the Dakota Dunes Open.

Joshua Creel is one stroke off the lead as he opened with a 64 at Pine Ridge Golf Club. Brock Mackenzie, the 2010 Times Colonist Open winner, is alone in third place after a first-round 65.

Drew Stoltz and Matthew Smith share fourth place at minus-5, while Matt Hill, Doug McGuigan and Tyler Aldridge are tied for sixth at 4-under 67.

Barnes started his bogey-free round with birdies on the second and fourth. He also birdied the sixth and eighth as he headed to the back nine at minus-4.

The 26-year-old birdied the par-5 12th and followed with an eagle on the short par-4 13th. After four pars in a row, Barnes birdied the last two grab the lead.

Creel parred his first three holes, then made eagle on the par-5 fourth. After three more pars, he birdied the par-5 eighth before making a pair of pars.

He moved to 4-under with a birdie on the par-4 11th and that kicked off a run of four straight birdies. The burst moved Creel within one of the lead. He birdied the 17th, but stumbled to a bogey at the last to end one back.

NOTES: Barnes has carded three 63s in his last four rounds as he also shot 63 in the second and final rounds last week in Saskatchewan … Brady Schnell, who tied for fifth last year, struggled to a 2-over 73, which left him tied for 71st.

Categorized in: PGA