Pappas brothers in contention

[Dale]

The biggest story in the first round -- until the late heroics of Frazar, Day and Senden -- was the play of the Pappas brothers, Deane and Brenden. They are in a five-way tie for third with Loren Roberts, Bill Glasson and David Sutherland after posting 66s. The similarities between the brothers do not end with their first-round scores or their surname.

Each is an alumnus of the University of Arkansas and the Nationwide Tour. Each claims fellow Razorback John Daly as a close friend.

Each has struggled to maintain playing privileges on the PGA Tour. And with five events remaining in the 2004 season, each needs a good performance to squeeze into the top 125 on the money list and avoid a trip to qualifying school.

"The money list is always in your head," said Deane, 37, who is 154th with $293,095.

"Let's see, when is it not in my head?" said Brenden, 35, who is 131st with $477,769.

Each has a career-best finish of second on the PGA Tour. Deane's came at the 2002 Southern Farm Bureau Classic, when Luke Donald birdied the 15th, 16th and 17th holes to beat him by one. Brenden's came at the 2003 Southern Farm Bureau Classic, when John Huston birdied the 15th, 16th and 17th holes to beat him by one.

"That's a bit of a shocker," Brenden said.

Each feels comfortable on the Annandale Golf Club course.

"It suits my eye," Deane said.

"It suits my eye," Brenden agreed.

It really would suit the two Australians if both were in contention Sunday. In fact, they've talked and thought quite a bit about just that. And they've developed a best-case scenario should they finish 72 holes tied for first.

"We'd just keep playing and halving holes (in a playoff) until dark," Deane said.

"Then (the tournament officials) would say, 'Look Pappases, you both get to keep the trophy,' " Brenden added.

The brothers had to search their memory banks for the last time they were in contention in the same tournament. Brenden swore he could not remember, but Deane pointed to a South African Tour tournament in 1996 as the spot.

"The reason he can't recall is he had a bad third round," Deane said smiling.

There is no sibling rivalry either. The brothers have played golf "since we began walking and could hold clubs in our hands," Brenden said. They share the same teacher, practice together all the time and partner up against all-comers in practice rounds.

"It certainly would be wonderful if we could both do well here -- in the same year," Deane said. "But there a long way to go and everyone knows you have to go low around here. We've only just begun."