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No doubt defending champion Mark Bazan was a little happier when he walked of the 18th green Friday than he was when he left the first green at Colony Creek Country Club.

Bazan looked as if he might be in for a long day in defense of his Victoria City Championship title after double bogeying his opening hole and then taking a bogey at the par-3 second.

But Bazan quickly learned it wasn’t how you start, but how you finished that counted most. Bazan finished with three straight birdies for a 5-under 30 on the back to grab a three-shot lead after day one of the championship.

The event moves to Riverside Golf Course today for round two and winds up Sunday with a final round at Victoria Country Club. Play begins at 8 a.m. both days.

After going out in 4-over 40, Bazan began putting things together at the par-3 11th with the first of five birdies on the back nine. He added a birdie at the par-5 13th and capped his round with birdies at 16, 17 and 18.

“I’m just happy to be where I’m at,” Bazan said, “it could have easily been an 80s day. I was able to made a couple of good putts on the back and it got me back in it.”

Bazan not only double bogeyed the first hole, but also stumbled with a double bogey at the par-4 seventh to make the turn at 4-over 40.

“Two doubles on the front is not easy to comeback from but I hung in,” Bazan said.

But he also issued a word of caution.

“We still have two more days to go so it’s not over yet,” Bazan said.

Chasing Bazan in second place are Scott Nicol and Eric Westerman at 73, while Clay Fullick posted a 74 to set in fourth place in the championship flight.

Gary McBroom holds a one-shot lead over Michael Billings in the senior championship flight. McBroom posted a 74, while Billings had a 75.

Mike Garvel leads the first flight with a 75, while Jim Linam leads the second flight with a 79.

Alan Culberson posted a 77 for a one-shot advantage over Clint Finley (78) in the third flight, while Mike Smith and Jeff Klare share the lead in the fourth flight at 85.

Claud Jacobs, with an 80, holds a two-shot edge over Randy Bena in the fifth flight.

Jeff Wooden holds a two-shot edge in the sixth flight with an opening 88, while Brian Walford is in at 90 and Mike Unger 91.

Sharon Petty leads the women’s flight with an 81, while Viola Saenz is in with an 84 and Eileen Heyer a 91.

Closest to the pin winners on the par 3s included Alan Elliott, Thomas Orsak, Bazan, Linam and Shawn Hallett.