Trio shares lead in Chrysler Classic
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) – Brent Geiberger, John Rollins and Nick Watney shot 8-under 64s on Thursday to share the first-round lead in the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro. John Senden, Robert Gamez, Mike Sposa, Tag Ridings, James Driscoll and Charley Hoffman were two strokes back, and defending champion K.J. Choi opened with a 65.
Scores were low all day at the 7,333-yard Forest Oaks Country Club, where 68 players finished the first round at 3 under or better.
Geiberger birdied eight of his final 12 holes in another strong performance at Forest Oaks, the site of his most recent victory on the PGA Tour.
He came to Greensboro in 2004 needing a strong performance to finish the season in the top 125 on the money list and secure his full tour card. He wound up winning with an 18-under 270 total, two strokes ahead of Michael Allen.
Geiberger entered this year’s tournament ranked 144th on the money list and finished the first day with his best opening-round score of the year.
“It’s very similar to where I was in ’04, but I feel with the equipment and the way I’m playing right now, I’d love to start out the year right now, because it’d be a completely different story,” Geiberger said.
The ’04 victory also made him and father Al the first father-son duo to win the same PGA Tour event. Al Geiberger won in 1976.
Corona Championship
MORELIA, Mexico – Brandie Burton had an eagle 2 on the par-4 first hole and finished with a 5-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead over Kelli Kuehne and 18-year-old Morgan Pressel in the windy Corona Morelia Championship.
Mexican star Lorena Ochoa was three strokes back after a 71.
The 34-year-old Burton, who started play on No. 10, birdied Nos. 15, 17 and 18 to reach 2 under, then bounced in her second shot from 96 yards on the 376-yard first. She added birdies on Nos. 5 and 7, but bogeyed the eighth.
Young-A Yang, Julieta Granada, Alena Sharp, Giulia Sergas, Heather Young and Katie Futcher opened with 70s.
Dunhill Links
ST ANDREWS, Scotland – England’s Paul Casey shot a 9-under 63 at Kingsbarns to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, strengthening his bid to win the European Order of Merit.
The 29-year-old Casey has a $152,000 lead over countryman David Howell, who has a lingering shoulder injury and shot a 75 at Kingsbarns.
Wales’ Bradley Dredge shot a record 8-under 64 on the newly extended Old Course at St. Andrews. Sweden’s Johan Edfors also had a 64 at Kingsbarns.
Fiji’s Vijay Singh and England’s Gary Evans shot 65s at Kingsbarns, and Denmark’s Anders Hansen also had a 65 at Carnoustie.