BROOKS, KAMM LEAD, BUT IT'S NO BREEZE\Desert winds blow at Bob Hope Classic.Byline: Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. Battling a desert dust storm, Mark Brooks Mark Brooks can refer to these people:
Winds of 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph pounded all four courses used in the five-day, 90-hole event, known for its traditionally low scoring. The 66s by Brooks and Kamm are the highest to lead a first round at the tournament since 1985. "The key was I got off to a really good start," said Brooks, who played Bermuda Dunes Country Club. He birdied the first three holes before the wind kicked up, then added three more birdies. Kamm, playing Indian Wells Indian Wells may refer to:
"The golf course played pretty tough today," Kamm said. "Indian Wells is one of the tighter courses. It was pretty demanding." Mark Calcavecchia Mark John Calcavecchia (born June 12, 1960) is an American golfer. Calcavecchia was born in Laurel, Nebraska. He attended the University of Florida, turned professional in 1981 and joined the PGA Tour in 1982. He earned All-SEC honors in 1979. , Jay Don Blake Jay Don Blake (born October 28, 1958) is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour. Blake was born in St. George, Utah. He attended Utah State University in Logan and was a member of the golf team. and Donnie Hammond, all playing Tamarisk tamarisk (tăm`ərĭsk), shrub or small tree of the genus Tamarix, native chiefly to the Mediterranean area and to central Asia. The plants are often heathlike and thrive in arid and coastal regions. Country Club, shot 67 to tie for third. Calcavecchia said the trio was lucky to be playing the most sheltered course on the blustery blus·ter v. blus·tered, blus·ter·ing, blus·ters v.intr. 1. To blow in loud, violent gusts, as the wind during a storm. 2. a. To speak in a loudly arrogant or bullying manner. day. "It really didn't blow at all the first 12 holes," Calcavecchia said. "It kicked up pretty fierce on the last six holes." Indian Ridge, host course for this year's tournament, was toughest on the players, yielding a 74.78 average, four shots higher than Indian Wells and three shots higher than Bermuda Dunes. Four players managed 70s at Indian Ridge. Despite the wind, Brooks was able to attack the par-5s at Bermuda Dunes, coming away with three birdies. "Three of the par-5s play into the wind here," he said. "So the way I see it, you just eat up a lot of real estate playing into the wind." Brooks and Blake described the wind as a two-club wind. Brooks hit a 5-iron on a 155-yard par-3 into the wind and came up short. Five players - past Classic winners Jay Haas, Tom Kite, Lee Rinker, Fulton Allem and Mike Springer - had 68s. In all, 57 players broke par, a low number for the Classic, where 9-under par made the cut in 1995. Defending champion Kenny Perry, playing in the tournament's traditional first foursome with 92-year-old tournament host Hope and former President Gerald Ford, shot 75. Perry shot a course-record 63 on the first day last year and went on to a one-stroke victory over David Duval. Five-time Classic winner Arnold Palmer, making a rare regular-tour appearance, also shot 75. CAPTION(S): PHOTO Fred Couples blasts from the sand on the first hole at Tamarisk, where he shot a 72 and is six shots off the lead after one round. Associated Press |
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