O'Hern closing in as darkness falls
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2008 FBR Open | Round One | 01 Feb 2008
Early morning frosts and the subsequent delays resulted in the opening round of the FBR Open in Scottsdale not being completed on day one with some 25 players still on the golf course as darkness fell across the Stadium Course at the TPC of Scottsdale.
Charles Warren and Kevin Sutherland share the lead after opening rounds of 6 under par 65, their only apparent threat likely to come from Australia’s Nick O’Hern, who was one shot back at five under through 14 holes when play was called just before 6.00pm local Phoenix time.
Brian Gay, Camilo Villegas and Rich Beem are also at five under but they have completed their opening rounds.
Warren has yet to win on the PGA Tour but has finished runner up at the Reno Tahoe Open on one occasion. The 32-year-old had a bogey free round today but was joined in the lead late in the day by veteran Sutherland, who had a good tournament going last week in San Diego until a last round of 74. Sutherland’s only real claim to fame in his 12 years on Tour was his victory at the 2002 Accenture Match Play Championship.
O’Hern returned to tournament golf last week in San Diego making the cut but not playing the weekend due to the new cut rule on the PGA Tour. It was his first start back since his near miss at the Australian Open behind Craig Parry.
This is O’Hern’s first tournament at the TPC of Scottsdale and he appears to enjoy the Weiskopf and Morrish designed layout. He will return early tomorrow to complete his round and perhaps even take the lead if all goes well.
The next best Australian is John Senden, who opened with 68 and looks to follow up his very impressive 8th placed finish last week with another good week while Robert Allenby still has a chance to improve after being caught by darkness when three under through 15 holes.
