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| May 27, 2006 | Saturday | Rabi-us-Sani 28, 1427 |
Local boy Donald in four-way lead
VIRGINIA WATER (England), May 26: World number 10 Luke Donald, making only his second appearance at the PGA Championship, moved into a four-way tie for the lead when he shot a 67 at remodelled Wentworth on Thursday.
Donald, who was born at nearby High Wycombe but plays much of his golf in the US, crammed five birdies in a flawless first round to join fellow Britons Paul Casey and Nick Dougherty and South African Andrew McLardy on five-under-par.
Holder Angel Cabrera of Argentina, Ireland's Peter Lawrie, Briton David Howell and Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin shared fifth place at the European Tour's flagship event.
World number six Ernie Els, who masterminded the changes to the Surrey layout, was among a host of players on 69 after the course was soaked by heavy overnight rain.
Casey finished his round with a real flourish, birdying the par-five 17th and eagling the par-five last.
Leading first round scores:
67 – Paul Casey (Britain), Luke Donald (Britain), Nick Dougherty (Britain), Andrew McLardy (South Africa).
68 – Angel Cabrera (Argentina), David Howell (Britain), Raphael Jacquelin (France), Peter Lawrie (Ireland).
69 – Francois Delamontagne (France), Jamie Donaldson (Britain), Ernie Els (South Africa), Kenneth Ferrie (Britain), Garry Houston (Britain), Robert Karlsson (Sweden), Paul Lawrie (Britain), Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain), Ian Poulter (Britain), Phillip Price (Britain), John Wells (Britain).
70 – Markus Brier (Austria), Darren Charlton (Britain), Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium), Niclas Fasth (Sweden), Retief Goosen (South Africa), Richard Green (Australia), Soren Hansen (Denmark), Trevor Immelman (South Africa), Simon Khan (Britain), Michael Kirk (South Africa), Soren Kjeldsen (Denmark), Jose Manuel Lara (Spain).
SURPRISE LEADER
MEMPHIS (Tennessee): American journeyman Chris Smith put behind him a miserable start to the year by taking a surprise two-shot lead at the St Jude Classic on Thursday.
The 37-year-old from Indiana fired a flawless six-under-par 64 in the opening round at the TPC at Southwind.
Smith, who has missed five cuts in eight PGA Tour appearances this season, birdied four of the first nine holes to reach the turn in four-under 31.
He picked up further shots at the 16th and 17th to finish two ahead of compatriot D.A. Points. Fellow Americans Paul Azinger and Tom Pernice junior were tied for third on 67.
Former world number one Nick Price of Zimbabwe, playing his eighth Tour event of the year, was among a group of six on 68.
St Jude Classic champion in 1993 and 1998, Price mixed three birdies with a solitary bogey to share fifth place.
Leading first round scores:
64 – Chris Smith (US).
66 – D.A. Points (US).
67 -- Paul Azinger (US), Tom Pernice (US).
68 – Mark Calcavecchia (US0, Fred Funk (US), Zach Johnson (US), Daisuke Maruyama (Japan), Nick Price (Zimbabwe), Paul Stankowski (US), Steve Stricker (US).
69 –Woody Austin (US), John Cook (US), Dan Forsman (US), Robert Garrigus (US), Brian Gay (US), Brent Geiberger (US), Frank Lickliter (US), Bob May (US), Ryan Palmer (US), Brett Quigley (US), Darron Stiles (US), David Toms (US), Ted Tryba (US).—Agencies
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