Goggin shares lead at Bob Hope

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2008 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic | Round One | 17 Jan 2008

Five players share the lead at the end of the opening round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, their opening rounds of 7 under 65 at their respective venues having them one shot clear of a pack of seven golfers on 66.

One of those at 7 under is Tasmanian Mathew Goggin, who briefly led on his own at eight under after he had eagled his 15th hole at the Classic Club but then immediately dropped two shots before a birdie at the last had him back in a share of the lead. Goggin’s last tournament was in Orlando in early November, where he played well for three rounds, and clearly the break has not harmed his game.

“I played really well today,” said Goggin after his round. “I hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens. I think that until my 11th hole I did not miss a green. So I went straight out of the gate I was 6-under through 10. None of putts were anything outside 10 feet. So I just hit the ball really well.”

Tim Petrovic, who missed the cut in Hawaii the past two years, led the tournament for much of the opening day and he was joined in the lead late in the day by Nationwide Tour graduate and previous PGA Tour member, Omar Uresti, Shigeki Maruyama, Mathew Goggin and 2001 Bob Hope winner, Joe Durant.

Uresti was a late inclusion in the event gaining a place on Monday after missing the cut in Hawaii last week, Maruyama comes off an improved finish to season 2007 and a reasonable week in Hawaii last week and Durant has had a lengthy break from tournament golf, last playing in Orlando in November.

Steve Elkington is the next best Australian after Goggin with a round of 66 while Brett Rumford began his PGA Tour career well with an opening 67. Nick Flanagan, Nathan Green and John Senden are at four under 68.