He feels it.
Playing nearly flawless golf on a tricky yet imposing Far Oaks Golf Club layout, Hall fashioned a 4-under par 68 to take a seven-stroke lead after the first round of the United States Deaf Golf Championship.
The 2004 Big Ten Conference champion while attending Ohio State, Hall shot identical 9-hole totals of 34 as he overcame a stellar field in his first appearance in a deaf golf tournament.
Hall said he was "feeling" a lot of good shots on Tuesday.
"The way the ball feels when it comes off the club face. That's how I know. When I hit it good, then I can feel it," Hall said through an interpreter. "It's like a sponge being wrung out when I hit it good. What you can hear, I feel."
"I played and hit it well today. It was a tidy round. I played smart golf. I didn't make many mistakes."
Brandon Babineaux, of St. Paul, Minn., is Hall's closest pursuer after shooting a three-over par 75, while 2005 champion Doren Granberry of Redding, Calif., and David Barber, playing out of Atlanta, are next at 76.
Seven-time champion Bill Roberts from Bolivar, Mo., rounded out the top five after shooting a 77.
While Hall established himself as the player to beat in the men's division, the women's championship is a draw after day one.
Lauri Ponikiewski, of Livonia, Mich., and Susan Zupnik, of Maplewood, N.J., both shot rounds of 83.
John Rush, of Highlands Ranch, Colo., leads the senior division after touring Far Oaks in an even-par 72, seven shots better then Neil Johnson of Coon Rapids, Minn.
A total of 48 players are entered in the tournament, which resumes at 7:30 a.m. today with round two. Rounds three and four are scheduled for Thursday and Friday at Far Oaks.
Admission is free and spectators are invited to attend.
Play was suspended for nearly two hours on Tuesday as thunderstorms rolled through the metro-east. Hall, 4-under with a 15-foot birdie putt awaiting when the delay came, missed his chance for another birdie when his putt slipped by on his 18th hole.
"It really didn't bother me. But I just had one shot left when the delay came," Hall said. "It's all part of it. You've got to deal with it."
Granberry, 47, was dealing with it just fine until two bad holes on his second nine. Once 3-under par midway through the round, Granberry shot 42 on his second nine and will have his work cut out for him if he is to defend the championship he won in Rochester, N.Y., two years ago.
"It was just one of those days. I had two bad holes and it cost me," Granberry said. "I haven't gotten my control down yet. If I can do that, I can have a good round in the low 70s and play like I'm capable."
Tourney notes
Following the second round today, the top 10 players will compete in a golf shootout at St. Clair Country Club. The fun, match play elimination format begins at 3 p.m. The even is open to the public.
Contact reporter Dean Criddle at 239-2665 or dcriddle@bnd.com.
