PALM HARBOR, Florida, 1 November 2003 — Charles Howell III posted a five-under-par 66 to move into a one-shot lead after the opening round of the Chrysler Championship on Thursday.
Veteran Dan Forsman holds stands alone in second on 67, a stroke ahead of Robert Gamez, Jerry Kelly, Chad Campbell and Argentina’s Jose Coceres in a tie for third place. World number four Davis Love III is another stroke back in a tie for seventh with South Africa’s Retief Goosen.
Also on 69 are J.J. Henry, Duffy Waldorf and Steve Lowery.
Fiji’s Vijay Singh, the world number two, carded a one-under 70, as did world number three Ernie Els of South Africa.
Should Singh win this event, he would lock up the PGA Tour money earnings title, depriving world No. 1 Tiger Woods of an honor he has earned each year since 1999.
Singh won the Funai Classic last week as Woods, who is not playing this week, finished in a tie for second.
Howell, a 24-year-old who won his first tour title last season, said he was happy to return to a difficult golf course such as the par-71, 7,295 Copperhead Course.
Copperhead played more than two strokes above its par, with the field needing an average of 73.106 strokes per player.
Only 24 players recorded rounds under par, while 90 were over par, including former world No. 2 Phil Mickelson who carded an 80.Forsman, who won his first tournament in 10 years last season, provided a marked contrast Howell both in age and the way he played Copperhead.
Forsman, 21 years Howell’s senior, made 12 steady pars to begin his round before getting a birdie at the 13th. He followed with birdies at the 14th, 15th and 18th holes.
Players who finish among the top-125 on the tour’s money list after the Chrysler Championship are exempt for the 2004 season. In addition, players who finish among the top 30 qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship next week.
Valderrama Play Abandoned Due to Wind, Rain
Sotogrande, Spain, second-round play at the Volvo Masters was abandoned yesterday due to heavy rain and strong winds.
The scheduled start was initially put back by four hours, following torrential overnight rain on an already sodden course, and organizers had to delay it further as winds gusted up to 80 kph.
However steady rain fell throughout the afternoon at Valderrama, leaving the par-72 layout waterlogged and forcing tournament officials to abandon play for the day at 1400 GMT.
Weather-permitting, rounds two and three will take place today, with the 57-strong field split into three-ball groupings with a two-tee start. Although the weekend outlook is favorable, with dry and sunny spells expected, tournament director David Garland does not expect the third round to be completed today.
