LA QUINTA, California, 23 January 2004 — Skip Kendall and Australia’s Mark Hensby shot nine-under-par 63s for a share of the lead after the first-round of the 90-hole Bob Hope Chrysler Classic on Wednesday.
Finishing late in the day, Kenny Perry carded an eight-under 64 at the Indian Wells Country Club to stand one stroke behind the leaders in third place.
The five-round event is being played on four different courses and Kendall shot his 63 at the PGA West Palmer Course while Hensby fired the best score at Indian Wells. La Quinta and Bermuda Dunes are the other two courses being used for this tournament.
Justin Leonard, Jerry Kelly and Jay Haas are tied for fourth place after carding eight-under-par 65s.
Haas, who will play on the PGA and Champions tours this year after turning 50, narrowly missed out on winning this event last season when he hit his approach to the final hole into the water.
Defending champion Mike Weir of Canada opened with a two-under-par 70.
Entering his 10th PGA Tour season, Kendall’s performance was in stark contrast to his last event.
After missing the cut by five shots at last week’s Hawaiian Open, Kendall was unsure of his swing and turned to instructor Brian Mogg.
In a matter of minutes, Kendall had rediscovered his form. Playing in his 294th PGA Tour event, Kendall has experienced leading but in each case has fallen short of victory, losing in playoffs at the 1998 Buick Invitational to Scott Simpson and the 2000 Farm Bureau Classic to Steve Lowery.
Kendall is the only player in the top 100 on the PGA Tour’s career money list without a victory. He ranks 90th with over $5.6 million in career earnings.
Hensby’s appearance at the event came somewhat as a surprise and he only made the field when Japan’s Hidemichi Tanaka withdrew. As the second alternate, Hensby, who lives in Arizona, was already planning to drive over just in case he got a spot.
“I know that you’ve got to shoot real low, which puts more pressure on you because you’ve got to make a lot of putts,” Hensby said.
Dane Hansen Sets Early Pace in Dunhill
In Johannesburg, Denmark’s Anders Hansen carded a seven-under par 65 to take the early lead in the first round of the Dunhill Championship yesterday.
Hansen, who led going into the final round of last week’s South African Open, fired seven birdies to lead by two shots from South African Steve van Vuuren, with Briton Lee Westwood a further shot back.
Several players still on the course were on their way to low rounds. Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin was six-under through 15 holes with local player Alan McLean and Briton David Lynn on five under.
Hansen, who finished with a four-over par 76 at Erinvale last Sunday, struggled with a wrist injury sustained on the ninth hole.
“My wrist has been bothering me a bit, I’m not exactly sure what it is but let’s call it tendonitis,” he said.
