Before Friday’s round at the 2001 Mississippi Farm Bureau Invitational, the course record – held by Ernie Blue – stood at 69.

After 160 golfers finished 18 holes each, three golfers and four strokes stood between Blue and his record.

David Lee, PGA professional at Windance Country Club in Gulfport, shot a Tiger Woods-like 65, including nine birdies, on Monday.

&uot;I just kept getting close,&uot; Lee said. &uot;I’m going to try to do the same thing tomorrow.&uot;

After starting his round with two bogeys, Lee began a streak that left most of the field behind.

With birdies at 12, 14, 17 and 18, Lee finished his first nine holes at three under.

When he made the turn, however, he turned it on.

Lee birdied 2, 3, 4, 6 and eight to finish seven under at the par-72 course.

&uot;I hit just about every green,&uot; he said. &uot;I’m not known to be a good putter, but I made several eight- to 10-foot birdies.&uot;

Lee’s scorching round overshadowed four-under rounds by Richard Fulkerson and Jonathan Dismuke, who sit at 68.

Dismuke said his strategy to make up ground will come on Beau Pr\u00E9’s three par 5s.

&uot;Playing well on par 5s and good rounds go hand in hand,&uot; he said. &uot;I played the par 5s three under. If I can do that, I’ll be happy.&uot;

Fulkerson, who will tee off at 9:20 a.m., got hot on the front nine, was able to make the turn at 33, with birdies on 3, 5, 6 and eight.

&uot;I played well through (the front nine),&uot; he said. &uot;I missed a short (birdie) putt on two and was able to recover.&uot;

Fulkerson hit a 20-footer on three, to begin his string.

He finished the back nine with birdies on 14 and 16, which offset bogeys at 9 and 10.

&uot;I don’t think I’ll change my strategy,&uot; he said. &uot;You’ve just got to put it in play.&uot;