The home-field advantage obviously agrees with Seth Strickland.
The superintendent at Miami Shores (Fla.) Country Club and the winner of the GCSAA National Championship the last time the event was played in his home state in 2005 got off to a strong start in the 2008 version of the event Sunday in Orlando, firing a 2-under-par 68 in the first round to build a four-shot lead over two other competitors.
Strickland, a six-year member of GCSAA, tore up the front nine at the Independence Course at Reunion Resort, carding three birdies en route to a 33. His back-nine ride was a tad wilder, but he managed to counter his only two bogies of the day with another three birdies to finish at 68.
Two superintendents were tied for second after round one following even-par showings. Shawn Westacott, superintendent at Jackson (Tenn.) Country Club and an eight-year member of GCSAA, and Thomas Ashfield, superintendent at Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, N.Y., and a 15-year GCSAA member, both fired 72s.
A shot behind those two and five off the pace were five-time runner-up Paul Jett, CGCS at Pinehurst (N.C.) No. 2 and a 21-year GCSAA member, and David Brown, superintendent at Flatirons Golf Club in Boulder, Colo., and a 26-year member of the association.
Defending champion Jason Regan from Selma (Ala.) Country Club opened his title defense with a 79.
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