Sluman, Burns and Tanaka lead the way at Disney

BY iseekgolf.com | US PGA Tour | 2002 Disney Golf Classic | Round One | 18 Oct 2002

Jeff Sluman, Bob Burns and Hidemichi Tanaka sit in first place after shooting -9 (63) to share the first round lead at the US$3.7 million Walt Disney Classic in California. A victory for either Burns or Tanaka this week would see them become the PGA Tour’s record 16th first-time winner this season with Sluman already victorious at the Greater Milwaukee Open in July and of course, equal second at last week’s Invensys Classic.

Scott Hoch lies one shot back from the leading trio at -8 (64), while Australian Stuart Appleby continues his good form of late, including a second placing at the Invensys Classic, to close the first round in 7th place with a -7 (65).

World number one Tiger Woods opened with a -6 (66) to close the day in equal 12th. Woods has won this event twice, once in 1996 and then again in 1999.

Peter Lonard leads the Australasian contingent in fourth place following an opening round -8 (64). Lonard, who is being touted as the likely winner of the 2002 PGA Tour “Rookie of the Year” award, fired a bogey-free round at the Palms Golf Course and is in a prime position to make a move towards his first PGA Tour win of the season.

Kiwi Michael Long sits in a tie for 24th following a round of 67 with Aussies Paul Gow and Rod Pampling another shot back at -4. A trio of players lie another shot back at -3 including Robert Allenby, who announced this week that he will not defend his Australian PGA title this year, and NEC Invitational winner, Craig Parry.

First Round – Australasian Scores
T4 -8 Peter Lonard (64)
T9 -7 Stuart Appleby (65)
T24 -5 Michael Long (67)
T40 -4 Rod Pampling (68)
T40 -4 Paul Gow (68)
T53 -3 Robert Allenby (69)
T53 -3 Steve Allan (69)
T53 -3 Craig Parry (69)
T95 -1 Grant Waite (71)
T95 -1 Frank Nobilo (71)
T113 E Geoff Ogilvy (72)