GOLF: Jay Haas, who is eligible to play on the 50-and-older Champions Tour next season, carded a career-best 11-under-par 61 to grab a one-shot lead at the celebrity-filled Bob Hope Classic at Bemuda Dunes Country Club.
Haas was one of four players to shoot 10-under or better in the California desert, making 11 birdies on a bogey-free day at the host PGA West Arnold Palmer Course, one of four in the rotation at the 90-hole event.
"It was just a magical day for me," said the 49-year-old Haas, whose two-round total of 16-under 128 is a stroke better than Harrison Frazar, who shot a 62 yesterday.
"I've had some good rounds here last year and some good tournaments in the past," said Haas, the 1988 champion. "So I felt good going into this week."
A lot of players feel good heading into this tournament. Of the 12 that have shot rounds of 11-under or better in the last five years on the PGA Tour, six have done it at the Bob Hope Classic. Pat Perez became one of the most recent, carding a career-best 11-under 61 to grab a share of third at 14-under 130.
Ulsterman Graeme McDowell could not match such low shooting, but the young Portrush player was at least consistent as he shot a second consecutive 69.
Stephen Ames of Trinidad and 2001 champion Joe Durant share third with Perez after carding a 67 and 63, respectively. Ames, who lives in Calgary, Canada, credited the weather for the low scores.
"Yeah, I think it's about 10 or 11 below now," Ames said of his home in Calgary. "So I'm quite happy to be here right now, yes."
Making his season debut, Davis Love III shot a 64 to tie Mike Weir, of Canada, and Australian Rod Pampling at 13-under 131. Love was one of 15 players to shoot 65 or better.
"It's nice there are no signs or leaderboards on the courses I'm playing, because you really don't want to pay any attention," Love said. "You just want to keep playing and try to birdie every hole."
BOB HOPE CLASSIC
Leading second round scores: (US unless stated): 128 J Haas 67 61; 129 H Frazar 67 62 130 P Perez 69 61, S Ames (Tri) 63 67, J Durant 67 63; 131 R Pampling (Aus) 65 66, M Weir (Can) 67 64, D Love III 67 64; 132 C Kresge 67 65, M Calcavecchia 66 66, C DiMarco 64 68, J Huston 66 66, JL Lewis 67 65, S McCarron 70 62; 133 G Hnatiuk (Can) 68 65, J Brehaut 68 65, B Tway 63 70, D Barron 66 67, T Herron 69 64, J Leonard 66 67, S Micheel 65 68; 134 T Fischer 68 66, D Waldorf 68 66, F Couples 69 65, P Jacobsen 67 67; 135 B Crane 69 66, T Petrovic 68 67, M Gogel 65 70, E Toledo (Mex) 66 69, K Triplett 68 67, A Cejka (Ger) 69 66, J Cook 64 71, R Gamez 65 70, P U Johansson (Swe) 68 67, T Lehman 67 68, J Maginnes 71 64, D Peoples 70 65, T Pernice Jr 69 66, P Moore 67 68. Other: 138 G McDowell (NIrl) 69 69.
