June 17, 2004

Duke rising junior Nathan Smith carded a three-over par 73 on Thursday on Day One of the 2004 U.S. Open at the 6,996-yard, par-70 Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y. He is tied for 62nd place after the first 18 holes, seven strokes behind the leaders. Play was suspended at 7:40 p.m. and will resume at 7:00 a.m. on Friday.

After recording bogeys on each of the first two holes, Smith tallied a birdie on the par-four third hole. He registered his second birdie of the day on Hole No. 5 and turned in a consistent back nine, shooting par on each of the last eight holes.

A native of Santa Cruz, Calif., Smith is just one stroke behind Tiger Woods and stands ahead of such notable pros as Fred Couples, Nick Price and Davis Love, III. Jay Haas and Shigeki Maruyama (four-under par 66) are the leaders in the clubhouse with 57 golfers yet to complete first-round play.

Former Blue Devil standout Joe Ogilvie is tied for 22nd after shooting even-par through 17 holes. Fellow Duke alum Leif Olson is tied for 122nd with a six-over par 76.