Allenby leads at Bob Hope Classic
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport1/hi/golf/6273417.stm Version 0 of 1. Australia's Robert Allenby shot a blistering 63 for a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Bob Hope Classic at La Quinta, California. Allenby shot a bogey-free round to move to nine under, with Americans Mark Calcavecchia and Craig Kanada two back. England's Justin Rose opened the five-round event with a 67, while Ian Poulter shot 68. Phil Mickelson, playing for the first time since the Ryder Cup, finished two under after an inconsistent round. The American was three over following a double bogey at the fourth, but recovered with four straight birdies from the 10th. US Ryder Cup player Scott Verplank, joint runner-up last year behind winner Chad Campbell, was among a group of eight bunched on 66. Allenby holed 25ft birdie putts on his last two holes and said: "Tee to green, I played really well and I made a lot of putts. "The greens were nice and receptive, and absolutely perfect to putt on. They had a great speed on them and I felt like I was going to make everything." |