Brian Thornton, who won the Oregon Open Invitational in 2012 at Broken Top in Bend, is setting the pace at the tournament again here in Central Oregon.

The Meridian Valley Country Club (Kent, Washington) PGA professional fired a 4-under-par 68 in Tuesday’s first round on the Nicklaus Course at Pronghorn Club. Thornton finished the first day of the 54-hole stroke-play tournament two strokes ahead of fellow pro and 2019 Washington Open champion Shane Prante of The Home Course (DuPont, Washington).

A group of three players was another stroke back at 1-under 71, including professional Jared Lambert of Meadow Lakes in Prineville.

A field of 208 players — 104 professionals and 104 amateurs — made up the scheduled starting field for the Pacific Northwest PGA event. Wednesday’s second round will be played on the Fazio Course, as will Thursday’s final round. The second round will be followed by a cut and re-pairing of the top 70 players and ties.

Two Central Oregon amateurs were in the top 10 going into the second round: Mason Tibbs of Meadow Lakes and Justin Kaden of Tetherow were part of a three-way tie for ninth place at 1-over 73.

Leading the team competition of best two of four is professional Austin Landis of Stone Creek GC (Oregon City), pro Brian Nosler of Loose Cannon Studio (Portland), amateur McKinnley Reznicsek of Arrowhead GC (Molalla) and amateur Jim Pliska of Waverley CC (Portland).

Nosler and Pliska are also leading the team four-ball competition after the first round.

Complete Oregon Open Invitational results, tee times and pairings are available at pnwpga.com.

— Bulletin staff report