FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

March 14, 2008

NICK PRICE TAKES FIRST ROUND LEAD

AT AT&T CHAMPIONS CLASSIC

Defending Champion Tom Purtzer One Shot Back

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – Nick Price shot a 6-under-par 66 to take the opening round lead in the AT&T Champions Classic at breezy Valencia Country Club, one better than defending Champion Tom Purtzer.

Starting on the 10th hole, Price had three birdies and a bogey in his first nine holes to make the turn at 2-under-par 34.  He then rattled off three straight birdies on holes 1-3 to take the lead.  He finished the day with a birdie on the Par 5 ninth, his seventh of the day to go along with one bogey, to shoot 32 over his final nine holes. 

“All in all a really good day,” said Price, the winner of two PGA Championships and the 1994 British Open.  “I am happy how I am playing, and my game is starting to come back now.  It was frustrating the last couple of years for me as I got into some bad habits and couldn’t get out of them.  I am happy how I finished today, especially with the conditions.  I stayed focused and mistake free.”

This is the first time Price, making his 18th Champions Tour start, has been the leader of a Champions Tour event.

Purtzer’s day started with a birdie on the first hole, but an eagle on the 9th, a par 5 in which he drained a 20-foot putt, got him into the thick of the scoring as several players were lingering at 2 or 3 under par during the early stages of the day.  A pair of birdies on the back nine on holes 11 and 15 brought him within one shot of Price.  Purtzer, who also won this event in 2003, was the lone player in the 79-man field to play a bogey-free round. 

Dana Quigley stands alone in third place at 4-under-par 68, while Loren Roberts and Graham Marsh are tied for 4th at 3-under-par.  Eight players are at 2-under-par and 13 are 1-under-par.

Saturday’s play in the $1.6 million AT&T Champions Classic starts at 10:20 a.m.  Tickets for the Champions Tour event are on sale for $15 at the event entry to Valencia Country Club off of Tourney Road.

The AT&T Champions Classic Tournament Headquarters is located at 27441 Tourney Road, Suite 280, Santa Clarita, CA 91335.  661-260-1897 (phone), 661-260-2379 (fax).