Haley (64) grabs Round 1 lead at Porter Cup

Paul Haley

LEWISTON, N.Y. – Paul Haley birdied three of his first four holes Wednesday en route to a bogey-free 6-under 64 at Niagara Falls Country Club and the first-round lead in the Porter Cup.

Haley, 23, a recent Georgia Tech graduate from Dallas, won the ACC Championship this year and tied for 20th at the NCAA Championship.

Daniel Nisbet, an Australian who recently completed an 18-month international suspension for possession of an anabolic steroid, shot 65 and was tied with Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ontario, for second place. Rank was 7 under through 14 holes before bogeys on Nos. 15 and 16.

Cody Gribble, a Texas junior from Dallas, rebounded from a double bogey at the par-4 fifth hole to play his final 13 holes in 6 under and shoot 66 to stand alone in fourth place.

Corbin Mills, who had two big victories – the U.S. Amateur Public Links and The Players Amateur – in consecutive weeks this summer, was among nine players tied for fifth at 67.

The 72-hole Porter Cup, regarded as one of the top 10 international amateur events of the year, continues Thursday morning and concludes Saturday.