Reid, 'Beer Man' one shot back

Updated: March 11, 2005, 10:08 PM ET

Associated Press

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SANTA CLARITA, Calif. -- Isao Aoki shot a 3-under 69 in difficult scoring conditions Friday to take a one-stroke lead over Mike Reid and Champions Tour rookie Mark Johnson after the first round of the SBC Classic.

Aoki, the 62-year-old Japanese star who was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame last year, had five birdies and two bogeys on the Valencia Country Club course as wind, thick rough and fast greens sent scores soaring.

"I just hope I can keep it going tomorrow,'' Aoki said. "It was very difficult controlling the ball today. I'm very happy with five birdies.''

Johnson, known as the "Beer Man'' because he drove a Budweiser truck for 18 years before turning pro, had an eagle, four birdies and four bogeys.

"I could have done without the bogeys, but overall, I'm happy,'' he said.

Johnson, one of California's top amateurs before turning pro, is beginning to feel more comfortable playing against players he used to watch on television.

"It was a little strange at first,'' he said. "I would be out on the range hitting balls next to guys like Hale Irwin and other great players. I was in awe of those guys and now I'm competing against them.

"I have set some high goals for myself, but I think they are attainable. I want to finish in the top 30 or the top 50. I know I have the game to do that, I just need to be very consistent.''

Reid had an eagle, four birdies and four bogeys.

"It was an interesting round,'' Reid said. "I chipped in twice and rolled a 20-footer, but I also three-putted from a foot. Sometimes on a day like today, your humanness gets exposed out here and it can be embarrassing.''

Raymond Floyd, Des Smyth, Bob Gilder and D.A. Weibring opened with 71s, and Craig Stadler, Jerry Pate, Mark McNulty, Tom Purtzer, Don Pooley, Keith Fergus and Don Reese shot 72s.

Irwin had a 73, ending his string of under-par rounds at 11. Irwin is coming off a victory two weeks ago in the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am, the 59-year-old star's tour-record 42nd title and second of the season.

Divots

John Jacobs was treated for dehydration after being carried off the 18th green and transported to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital. ... Defending champion Gil Morgan opened with a 76. ... Billy Mayfair beat Tiger Woods in a playoff at Valencia in the 1998 Nissan Open.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press

SBC Classic first-round scores

Updated: March 11, 2005, 10:06 PM ET

Associated Press

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At Valencia Country Club
Santa Clarita, Calif.
Purse: $1.55 million
Yardage: 6,905; Par: 72 (36-36)
First Round

Isao Aoki                 35-34--69
Mark Johnson              34-36--70
Mike Reid                 33-37--70
Des Smyth                 34-37--71
Bob Gilder                37-34--71
Raymond Floyd             35-36--71
D.A. Weibring             36-35--71
Don Reese                 36-36--72
Jerry Pate                35-37--72
Tom Purtzer               38-34--72
Don Pooley                35-37--72
Mark McNulty              35-37--72
Craig Stadler             37-35--72
Keith Fergus              36-36--72
Lanny Wadkins             35-38--73
Brad Bryant               35-38--73
Mike McCullough           34-39--73
David Eger                40-33--73
Morris Hatalsky           34-39--73
Hale Irwin                36-37--73
Tom Jenkins               37-36--73
J.C. Snead                39-34--73
Tom McKnight              37-37--74
Gary McCord               38-36--74
Jim Thorpe                36-38--74
Walter Hall               37-37--74
Lonnie Nielsen            35-39--74
Vance Heafner             38-36--74
R.W. Eaks                 39-36--75
Tom Wargo                 37-38--75
John Fought               39-36--75
Bruce Fleisher            37-38--75
Dave Eichelberger         37-38--75
Bobby Wadkins             38-37--75
Paul Parajeckas           38-37--75
Hajime Meshiai            37-39--76
Leonard Thompson          36-40--76
Ben Crenshaw              39-37--76
Wayne Levi                40-36--76
Fuzzy Zoeller             40-36--76
Hubert Green              39-37--76
Pete Oakley               40-36--76
Vicente Fernandez         37-39--76
Gil Morgan                40-36--76
Andy Bean                 38-38--76
John Bland                36-40--76
Pat McGowan               39-37--76
Curtis Strange            40-37--77
Jim Colbert               40-37--77
Howard Twitty             39-38--77
Dana Quigley              39-38--77
Ed Fiori                  38-39--77
Larry Nelson              37-40--77
Rodger Davis              39-38--77
Allen Doyle               38-39--77
Jim Dent                  40-37--77
Graham Marsh              39-38--77
Mark McCumber             37-40--77
Ron Streck                41-36--77
Jim Albus                 39-38--77
John Ross                 39-38--77
Bob Eastwood              38-40--78
Mike Sullivan             38-40--78
Bruce Summerhays          39-39--78
Jim Ahern                 42-36--78
Ed Dougherty              37-41--78
Rocky Thompson            39-39--78
Bill Rogers               40-39--79
Dale Douglass             38-41--79
John Mahaffey             41-38--79
Hugh Baiocchi             38-41--79
Joe Inman                 39-41--80
John Harris               44-36--80
Jay Sigel                 43-38--81
Bruce Lietzke             41-41--82
Jim Holtgrieve            42-40--82
Terry Dill                43-41--84