Ahhhh, clean sheets - Thursday, March 22, 2007

MADEIRA, Portugal -- Don't you just love clean sheets? Notah Begay III sure does.

"I'm still getting my feet wet," the 1st-year European Tour member said to the press after his bogey-free first round at the Madeira Islands Open BPI. "But I'm definitely happy I decided to come here. Having a clean-sheet today was very gratifying."

Notah's clean sheet (no bogeys), along with his five birdies, yielded a 5-under par 67 - just one back of the leader, Ricardo Santos of Portugal. Play was stopped several times due to inclement weather and EuropeanTour.com called the conditions "horrible."

“This was my European Tour baptism round," Notah said. "I had steered clear of the bad weather for my first four events. In Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and then Asia, we played in warm conditions, but this was definitely not hot. I saw a little bit of everything today - rain, sun, everything. At one point I was sweating but my ears where cold and that was interesting!"

Notah praised the course at the Santo da Serra Golf Club, despite the poor weather.

“That’s what I really like about this golf course - you can play it in any condition," Notah said. "It gives you an opportunity to score as long as you play the hole smartly and it is designed to be played when it is really windy.”

Be sure to check back with Notah.com to follow NB3 in his quest to earn a fifth Tour victory.



THIS WEEK'S BREAKDOWN

Notah's History at the Madeira Islands Open BPI (0-0 vs. the cut)
This is Notah's first appearance at the Madeira Islands Open BPI.

Course
Santo da Serra Golf Club, Madeira, Portugal

Notah's Group (Rounds 1 & 2)
Kenneth Ferrie (Ashington, England)
Phillip Archer (Warrington, England)

Notah's Tee Times (local time is 4 hours ahead of ET)
Fr - 8:35 am (10th tee)
Sa - TBA
Su - TBA