Wilson takes first-round lead in New Orleans

HOUSTON (Reuters) - American Dean Wilson fired a six-under-par 66 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the New Orleans Classic on Thursday.

Wilson, who had been struggling in the early season, carded seven birdies against a lone bogey to hold the narrowest of advantages over Australian Peter Lonard and Americans Briny Baird and Chez Reavie, who all shot 67 at windy TPC Louisiana.

Former U.S. PGA champion Steve Elkington of Australia, Americans Vaughn Taylor, Jay Williamson and Cameron Beckman were a further shot adrift in a share of fifth place.

Wilson, ranked 152nd, had made the cut in only three of eight events this season with a tie for 29th at the Buick Invitational his best showing.

"I've struggled a little bit," the 38-year-old told reporters. "I took a couple weeks off and just went home and tried to clear my brain and just play golf rather than maybe sit on the range and fiddle with my swing. I think that helped."

Three shots off the pace at 69 was a group of eight American golfers including Woody Austin, runner-up at last year's U.S. PGA Championship.

The shot of the round belonged to Baird, who holed out on the par-four sixth hole from 208 yards, when his five-wood landed on the front of the green and rolled into the cup.

TOUCH THIN

Baird said he hit the shot a touch thin but it worked out perfectly for him.

"Being a little thin...it stays under the wind a little bit better," said the 35-year-old Baird, who is still looking for his first U.S. tour title. "My caddie and I could tell it was going to be good.

"We saw it disappear. we weren't sure if it was in or not, and then all four people behind the green went berserk."

Baird, who began his round on the back nine, also chipped in from 39 feet for birdie at number four. Another birdie at the par-five seventh put him at six-under, but a bogey on his last hole dropped him from a tie for the lead with Wilson.

Elkington, who helped design this course with famed architect Pete Dye, joked about his return to form this season, with two top-five finishes -- his best results in more than two years.

The 45-year-old Australian, a 10-times winner on the U.S. Tour, has not won on the circuit since 1999 at Doral.

"My son who's about 11 now wanted to know where I bought all those trophies that I have," Elkington said, drawing laughs from reporters. "I've been trying to play more golf and refocus a little bit on trying to get up and win some tournaments."

World number four Steve Stricker, Japan's Shigeki Maruyama and Sweden's Robert Karlsson were among a large contingent who posted two-under-par 70s.

British Open champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland shot a 71, while U.S. Masters champion Zach Johnson carded a 72 and twice U.S. Open winner Retief Goosen of South Africa 73.

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