In front of rowdy hometown fans, Marino takes lead at AT&T National

7/4/2008

BETHESDA, Md. (AP) -- Steve Marino used to consider it a treat the few times he played Congressional as a teenager.

It was a thrill on Thursday to play bogey-free in the first round of the AT&T National and shoot 5-under 65 for a one-shot lead.

Marino, who grew up a half-hour away in Fairfax, Va., birdied three of his opening four holes, never had a par putt longer than 5 feet and finished off his round with an 8-foot birdie to be in the lead after any round for only the second time in his career.

It's already been a big week for Jeff Overton and Frank Lickliter, who were among those at 66.
 
Overton had missed six of his last seven cuts, working harder than ever with nothing to show for it, until the 36-hole qualifier Monday outside Detroit for the British Open. He was the medalist, earning his first trip to a major.

Lickliter, whose wife gave birth to twin sons in January, took them to Christ Church in Georgetown to have Storm and Steel christened.

Leaderboard – Round 1:

1. Steve Marino               USA  65 - 5
2. Jeff Overton                USA  66 - 4
    Frank Lickliter              USA  66 - 4
    Rod Pamping              AUS  66 - 4
6. Alex Čejka                  GER  67 - 3
    Notah Begay III           USA  67 - 3
    Billy Mayfair                 USA  67 - 3
    Anthony Kim                USA  67 - 3
    Stuart Appleby             AUS  67 - 3
    Tommy Armour            USA  67 - 3
    Fredrik Jacobson          SWE  67 - 3

Source: AP, PGA Tour