Sport

Riley, Perry share lead

Americans Kenny Perry and Chris Riley each fired 5-under-par 65s on Thursday to share the lead after the first round of the $…

Sat Jan 12 2002 - 00:00

Americans Kenny Perry and Chris Riley each fired 5-under-par 65s on Thursday to share the lead after the first round of the $4 million PGA Hawaiian Open.

Perry, who began his season by finishing third last week at the season-opening tournament of champions, made six birdies and a bogey over the 7,060-yard Waialae Country Club layout.

Riley played bogey-free, rolling in five birdies during his first round of the season. The American, winless in 88 career PGA events, was 45th on the money list with a career-best $1.2 million but does not take his success lightly, comparing it to life in the National Basketball Association.

"Golf is not like the NBA where you are guaranteed your two million per year and all that," he said. "You have to go out there and earn your money."

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Sweden's Jesper Parnevik, John Cook and Jerry Kelly shared third at 66 with New Zealand's Phil Tataurangi, Trinidad and Tobago's Stephen Ames and Americans Cameron Beckman and Jonathan Byrd at 67.

Nineteen golfers share 10th at 68, including PGA Championship winner David Toms, US Ryder Cup teammate Scott Hoch and defending champion Brad Faxon.

Riley had a bogey-free day at the first full-field event of the season. He had four top-10 finishes in 30 starts last year, finishing as high as second at The International in August.

"I had a pretty good year last year," Riley said. "But the main thing is to try and win out here. For me, you never know."

Perry, a four-time winner in 14-plus seasons on the PGA tour, has become a little easier to gauge. The 41-year-old veteran broke through for his first title in six years last season and was third last week Maui.

LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES (USA unless noted): 65 - C Riley, K Perry; 66 - J Kelly, J Parnevik (Swe), J Cook; 67 - P Tataurangi (Nzl), J Byrd, C Beckman, S Ames (Tri); 68 - M Kuchar, B Gay, B Elder, L Mattiace, D Toms, J Durant, J Huston, FLickliter, S Hoch, M O'Meara, R Beem, A Magee, P Perez, T Armour, B Faxon, J Haas, F Funk, E Toledo (Mex), K J Choi (Kor); 69 - S Elkington (Aus), R Allenby (Aus); 70 - H Fujita (Jpn), H Tanaka (Jpn), S Appleby (Aus), S Maruyama (Jpn); 71 - C Franco (Par), I Leggatt (Can), K Miyamoto (Jpn), R Zokol (Can), S Garcia (Spa), R Sabbatini (Rsa); 72 - K Yokoo (Jpn); 73 - G Chalmers (Aus), P-U Johansson (Swe); 74 - T Kondo (Jpn), S Yokota (Jpn); 75 - R Pampling (Aus), E Fryatt (Brit), G Ogilvy (Aus), K Fukabori (Jpn); 77 - D Frost (Rsa).