GOLF/US Tour: Bob Estes blazed to a five-under-par 65 and the early first-round lead at the Colonial tournament in Fort Worth, Texas yesterday.

Estes, of Austin, Texas, birdied the first two holes, added another at the par-thre eighth hole and then closed the day with two consecutive birdies.

The result gave Estes a two-stroke lead over Mexico's Esteban Toledo, Scott Verplank and Steve Jones, all in at three-under 67.

Defending champion Sergio Garcia, starting on the back nine, eagled the par-five 11th hole, but would bogey eight of the final 16 holes for a six-over 76.

With Tiger Woods playing in Germany this week, Phil Mickelson is the top-ranked player in the field. He won his 20th PGA Tour title earlier this year at the Bob Hope Classic and is second all-time behind Woods in earnings with more than $0 million.

Mickelson has a good chance at title number 21 this week, especially since Colonial Country Club has a variety of elements, with holes moving from right to left and left to right, wind swirling in the trees and pins tucked in the corners of greens.

Meanwhile, Bray's Keith Nolan fired a one-under-par 70 in the opening round of the SAS Carolina Classic on the Buy.com tour.

It left him tied for 19th-place, five shots behind the leader Larry Rinker, who shot a six-under-par 65 to lead by one.