Chilean Hugo Leòn Leads Canadian Tour In Chile

Leòn's 65 gives him a three stroke cushion over Columbia's Mario Hurtado, American Mike Grob and the Argentine duo of Walter Rodriguez and Ramon Bescansa heading into Friday's second round.

A group of five players at 69 include 7-time Tour de las Americas champion Rafael Gómez of Argentina, Chilean Benjamin Alvarado and American Rob Grube.

In this first Canadian Tour event ever staged in Chile, only 23 players shot par or better during an overcast and chilly opening round.

"I stayed in control all day, missing only two greens and kept the ball in play off the tee - which I believe is key on this course," said León, a recent graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University.

Starting on the back nine, Leon collected birdies on 11 and 14 for a 33 on his opening half. After a 3-iron off the tee at the 369-yard par four twelfth, Leòn holed his approach for a spectacular eagle that gave him the lead the rest of the way.

"I thought I had 96 yards to the hole, but my caddie didn't like that number and walked to the pin and said it was only 89 yards," explained Leon of his eagle.

"I picked the sand wedge and hit the ball within ten feet of the pin. It bounced once and rolled into the cup. It was a great boost for my game because I was playing well but had missed several birdie chances.

"After that, I played solid golf and felt quite comfortable with the putter.

Leòn closed his round with birdies at two of his last three holes.

Despite a 68, Mike Grob admitted to some opening round jitters. "I've played a lot of years and even though I have, I still was a little nervous about starting in a new place."

Grob quickly steadied his nerves with an eagle at No. 11, his second hole. He followed it with a birdie at No. 12 and was on his way.

The Canadian Tour's all-time money leader is impressed with the layout. "I love it. It's an old style course that is right up my alley. You have to think your way around this course. It's narrow and very beautiful. This is the first time I have been out of North America and I'm very excited to be here."

First Round - - Canadian Tour
US $160,000 Sport Frances Open
Sport Frances Golf Club - - 6,857-yard, par-71
(a-denotes amateur):
Canadians in Bold

Hugo Leon 65
Mario Hurtado 68
Walter Rodriguez 68
Mike Grob 68
Ramon Bescansa 68
Benjamin Alvarado 68
Lucas Lee 69
Christoph Guenther 69
Rob Grube 69
Rafael Gomez 69
Matt Johnston 70
Raul Fretes 70
Mauricio Molina 70
Jim Seki 70
Mike Mezei 70
Alex Coe 70
Milton Jeria 71
Francisco Valdes 71
Julio Noguera 71
Rafael Ponce 71
Kent Fukushima 71
Guillermo Encina 71
Luis Arechiga 72
Jose Garrido 72
Diego Perez 72
Brian Benedictson 72
Scott Ford 72
Thomas Aravena 72
Luis Moreno 72
Ramon Franco 72
Nicolas Geyger (a) 72
Patricio Fernandez 72
Daniel Im 72
Dale Vallely 73
Francisco Cerda 73
Cristian Leon 73
Jose Buezas 73
Pierre Relecom 73
Daniel Barbetti 73
Nicolas Gaete 73
Martin Ureta 73
Kris Wasylowich 73
Roy Mackenzie 73
Clodomiro Carranza 73
Luis Berrios 73
Jorge Carvacho 74
Manuel Relancio 74
Derek Oakey 74
Horacio Leon (a) 74
Pan Singhaseni 74
Luis Graf 74
Marcel Haremza 74
Jaime Clavijo (a) 74
Luciano Giometti 74
Angel Fernandez 74
Luis Ramirez (a) 74
Luis Figueroa 75
Cristian Fornes (a) 75
Eric West 75
Luciano Dodda 75
Alan Bihan 75
Mitch Gillis 75
Diego Perez de Arce 75
Luciano Diaz (a) 75
Garrett Sapp 75
Stuart Anderson 75
Lucas Morande (a) 75
Matias O'Curry 76
Santiago Russi 76
Cristian Espinoza (a) 76
Sebastian Salem 76
Jesus Amaya 76
Anibal Gonzalez 76
Adam Speirs 76
Byron Smith 76
Cristian Caballero 76
Estanislao Goya 76
James Muir 77
Eduardo Miguel 77
Hugo Contreras 77
Ignacio Besagoitia 77
Juan Cortes (a) 77
Juan Massai 77
Gonzalo Ruiz 77
Miguel Fernandez 77
Vicente Rojas 77
Edgar Gomez 77
Gonzalo Orfila 77
Hector Beck (a) 77
Maxmiliano Orueta 77
Martin Monguzzi 77
Pedro Bueno 77
Philippe Guidi (a) 77
Nicolas Noranbuena 77
Flip Timmerman (a) 78
Nilson Cabrera 78
Brandon Lawson 78
Juan Cardenas 78
Andrew Jensen 78
Todd Halpen 78
Joaquin Estevez 78
Andres Benanati 78
Oswaldo Gonzalez 78
Rodrigo Jeria 79
Ian Schneider 79
Jose Aranda 79
Hugo Leon Sr. (a) 79
Diego Larrazabal 79
Victor Bueno 79
Juan Labbe (a) 79
Matias Gramajo 80
Andres Jabalquinto 81
Esteban Isasi 81
Guillermo Benenati 81
Wesley Burton 83
Pablo Abumohor (a) 84
Fabian Montovia 84
Adam Britz 91
Domingo Caro WD
Eduardo Melendez WD
Cristian Maldonado WD