Two share Seaforth lead

Seaforth, ON – James Allenby and Joel Dahmen both posted under 63 on Thursday to share the first-round lead of the Seaforth Country Classic.

Hugo Leon, who is second on the Canadian Tour Order of Merit, Darren Griff, Brad Fritsch and Dustin Risdon, who is fifth on the money list, share third place at six-under 64 at Seaforth Golf Club.

This is a crucial week for the Canadian Tour. Next week is the Canadian Tour Championship and any player who's made official money this season is eligible and there are several golfers who aren't.

One of those is Isabelle Beisiegel.

She became the first woman to earn playing privileges on a men's tour when she qualified through Q School. On Thursday, she broke 70 for the first time on tour with a one-under 69.

Allenby got off to a great start on Thursday with birdies at two and three, then an eagle at the par-four fourth. He dropped a stroke at the sixth, but atoned for the error with three birdies in a row to close his opening nine.

Allenby was six-under par, then parred his first eight holes on the back side. He birdied the par-four closing hole to match Dahmen atop the leaderboard.

Dahmen was flawless on Thursday. He tallied four birdies on his front nine, then tacked on three more on the second side to be the first to post a seven- under score.

Sean Shahi, Garrett Frank, Ryan Thornberry, Ben Ferguson, Brian Groves, Liam Kendregan and Wes Heffernan are tied for seventh place at five-under 65.

NOTES: Allenby and Dahmen are both winless on the Canadian Tour...Derek Gillespie is playing for the first time since a March car crash that broke five ribs and his leg. Gillespie shot an even-par 70 and is tied for 74th.