Noonan and Kearney Grab First Round Leads at Harvey Penick Invitational

In the Championship Flight, Brian Noonan shown here hitting a tee shot on #11, overcame a stomach virus and the ensuing weakness during the round to post a five under par 67 and take a two shot lead in the 76th Harvey Penick Invitational.   Michael Walton of Indian Wells, California and Randy Haag of San Francisco, California both posted three under par 69.  Noonan, a former three time winner of the Austin Men's City Championship, a winner of the Firecracker Open, a former Austin Country Club Championship and a former professional golfer persevered through difficult conditions and came out the leader after the first round. 

Noonan faces stiff competition in the coming rounds from Haag and Walton.  Haag who plays at the Olympic Club in San Francisco has an impressive golfing resume of his own.  Read more about Randy Haag here.  Michael Walton, who also shot 69 in the first round, is a real estate agent who played professional golf for 12 years before his current profession, so he is no stranger to good play and pressure.

Four players matched even par 72 including: Buck Brittian of Tezewell, Virginia;Jess Bonneau of Houston, Texas; Matt Wernecke of Austin, Texas; and Robert Merrill of Lafayette, Lousiana.  Six more players are at 73.

In the senior divison, Bob Kearney of Houston posted four under par 68 for  the low round of the day to take a two stroke lead over Mark Coward and Doug Pool, who both shot two under par 70.  Kearney has won the Texas Amateur Championship as well as the Texas Mid-Amateur Championship, the Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play Championship and is looking to win the Texas Senior Amateur Championship later this month in Tyler, Texas.  John Grace is currently the only player to have won the Texas Amateur, the Texas Mid-Amateur and the Texas Senior Championships. 

Doug Pool and Mark Coward are two shots behind Kearney.  Coward is the former head professional of Great Hills Country Club and a long time Austinite who relocated and came back to play in the Penick.  Many of his old friends expressed joy at seeing Mark again.

Bob Ammon and Albert Johnson, who both shot 71,  are three back of Kearney. 

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