Gainey takes early lead at Greater Dallas Open

Jun 5, 2015 - 1:38 AM Lewisville, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Tommy Gainey carded a 9-under 63 in Thursday's first round and he grabbed an early 1-shot lead at the inaugural Greater Dallas Open.

Gainey's two Web.com Tour wins both came in 2010 at the Melwood Prince George's County Open and the Chiquita Classic.

Mark Walker and Ashley Hall shot matching 8-under 64s at The Lakes at Castle Hills, putting them in a tie for second.

Matt Weibring, Julian Etulain, Bronson La'Cassie and Gregory Yates are all one shot further back in fourth at 7-under 65.

Gainey had a flawless round that started on the front nine. He drained two birdies over his first four holes at two and four before making a trio of pars from five.

The 39-year-old made the turn in style with back-to-back gains on eight and nine, pushing his score to 4-under.

Following another pair of pars at 10 and 11, Gainey went on a big run to finish up his round. He rolled in five birdies over his final seven holes to complete his bogey-free round and jump out to the early tournament lead.

"On the Web.com Tour, if you're not making birdies you're not making cuts," said Gainey. "To be honest with you, I left a few out there. I missed just one green today and got that one up and down."

Walker had a big front nine that featured a big run of five birdies in seven holes from No. 3. He made the turn at 5-under and kept rolling from there.

A pair of birdies on 11 and 12 got Walker to minus-7, but he gave one of those back with his first and only bogey on 13. Walker ended with three pars and two birdies on 16 and 18.

"I think I've been on this golf course maybe 20 times, so I'm familiar with it," Walker said. "But you still have to hit good golf shots. I know I can't short-side myself here."

Hall had a monstrous front nine, which featured just one par. The Australian made seven birdies and a bogey on two, which saw him go out in 30 at 6-under.

He slowed down on the back nine with a bogey on 13, but Hall finished strong with three birdies over his final four holes to post 64 with Walker.

NOTES: Gainey has two top-10 finishes on the year, both ties for ninth ... Gainey's 63 matched the course record set by Dustin Risdon at the Texas State Open in 2014 ... The lone green Gainey missed was at No. 10 ... Gainey also won the 2012 McGladrey Classic on the PGA Tour ... Walker was a Monday qualifier this week.