Kurt Russ fired a one-under-par 71 on Saturday to take a two-shot lead in the Championship Flight in the first round of the second Annual Beau Pr\u00E9 Country Club Championship.

Russ had a solid round of golf with three birdires and two bogeys.

&uot;It’s the best round I’ve ever had here,&uot; Russ said. &uot;I had a chance to shoot four-under, but i left some putts on the lip (of the cup).

&uot;I played smart for a change. I hit the ball where I had to. I didn’t take any big chances,&uot; he said.

Russ said he was surprised he had such a good round after shooting an 85 in practice Friday.

He added that he’ll have to do as good or better to win the championship today.

Five players are two shots back with a one-over-par 73: defending champion P.Z. Brewer, Al Guido, Chee Chee Barnes, Bubba Kaiser and Kevin Smith.

Brewer had four birdies, three bogeys and one double bogey in his round of play.

&uot;I played pretty solid on the front side,&uot; Brewer said. &uot;I made the turn at one-under, then I doubled 11, bogeyed 12, birdied 13, parred 14 through 17 and three-putted from 15 feet on 18 for another bogey.

&uot;When I started out, I said all I wanted was to shoot a 72,&uot; he said.

Barnes, who had an eagle, three birdies, two bogeys and two double bogeys, described his round as &uot;a little bit of everything for people to see.&uot;

&uot;It was an overall roller coaster,&uot; Barnes said. &uot;I had two lost balls. I was at two-under at one point. But it was fun.&uot;

Barnes said that an even-par or one-under-par round on Sunday could probably be enough for someone to win it, but &uot;somebody may have a hot streak and pull away.&uot;

John Carlton shot a 78 to lead the First Flight by one shot over Bill Byrne, Howard Jones and Stephen Hollingsworth.

Charles Yarbrough had an 84 to lead the Second Flight by one shot over Scott Kimbrell and Jerry Donald and by two shots over Lee Jones and Kinny Carlton.

Jones, who is 12 years old, is playing in his first Club Championship.

George Matthews fired a 95 to lead the Third Flight by three shots over Braxton Hobdy and by four shots over Cliff Merritt.

Two groups will have morning tee times in today’s final round — Matthews and Hobdy at 7:50 a.m and Merritt, Lucius Butts and Billy Gillon at 8:10 a.m.

The afternoon tee times will start at 12:20 p.m.