Ted Potter teed off at 7:43 yesterday morning in the Puerto Rico Open and the early start paid off in spades. Ted parred the first hole, then eagled the par-5 second, and went on to a 4-under-par 68 to tie for 14th place, four strokes behind Kyle Stanley's 64. Stanley holds a two-stroke lead over a group of six at 6-under 66.

    Ted birdied the fourth hole to turn in 3-under 33, then added a three-putt bogey on 14 and birdies on 15 and 17 for a back-nine 35. He came into the $3 million event at the Grand Reserve Country Club in 141st place on the FedEx Cup points list, and a high finish on Sunday can move him into the top 125. 

    Ex-Gator Chris Couch is among the six tied at 66 in his first start since he deadlocked for 39th at 12 under in the Barbasol Championship last July. Chris, a long-time Gainesville resident even after he graduated from UF, now lives in Winter Garden. He turns 47 on May 1, and it can be assumed the PGA Tour Champions is on his bucket list in three years. Since returning from a prolonged injury, Chris has earned $27,166, making three of four cuts, and this event could turn everything around for him. He made six birdies without a bogey yesterday. 

    Seminole Hank Lebioda shot 2-over 74 in the opener, and he's three strokes over the early projected cut line.  

    

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