Golf: Americans lead way on day of low scores at Clearwater

By BOB PEARCE in Christchurch

Young American Bryce Molder could have been excused some negative thoughts about his golf after bogeying the last four holes to lose the Jacob's Creek Open in Adelaide last week.

But the 23-year-old from Arkansas, whose collegiate golf achievements eclipse Tiger Woods, bounced back to share the lead in the Clearwater Classic at Christchurch yesterday.

His six-under-par 66 was matched by fellow American Joel Kribel on a day when the brand-new course yielded 92 scores of par or better.

Hamilton professional Steve Alker is leading the New Zealand charge one stroke back on 67. Alker plays the Buy. Com tour, of which the $1.2 million Clearwater event is the second of the season. He shares third place with Australians Peter O'Malley and Nick O'Hern. Local amateur Eddie Lee and rookie Wellington pro Gareth Paddison are in a big group on three under.

Whatever his failings last week - and Molder prefers to give credit to the man who beat him, Australian Gavin Coles - he is the bright young hope of American golf. He led the US to victory in the 2000 Eisenhower world amateur. His stroke average in his college days was 70.69, eclipsing Woods' 71.10, and he finished third at Reno in his debut event by invitation on the US PGA Tour last year.

Yesterday, starting on the 10th, he had three birdies on each half and did not drop a shot. For the first nine he hit everything close but on the second nine, when he sprayed a couple of drives, he sank long putts to keep his good round going.

"This course is a bit like the two courses we played in the Eisenhower in Germany. If you hit the ball well off the tee you can be really aggressive," he said.

Clearwater's 6526m is like two courses. The first nine holes are relatively straightforward with forgiving fairways, but the second nine are like a long drink in a city clipjoint - plenty of water with a dash of fairway.

The 25-year-old Kribel, whose birdie putt for the outright lead lipped out on his last hole, is playing the Buy. Com tour with the benefit of a medical exemption. He injured his lower back last June and was away from the game for 3 1/2 months.

Playing early in a light drizzle that made the greens receptive to good iron shots, Kribel hit most greens in regulation and holed almost everything under 3m. His only blemish was a bogey on the 407m 18th.

Alker was disappointed with his performance at Adelaide and has been working with his coach, John Griffin. The result was a bogey-free round. He was very secure from the tee and a couple of wayward irons were recovered with some deft play around the greens.

Paddison was happy enough with his start but felt he missed chances for a better score than three under in the benign early conditions. His putting was the problem with several birdies squandered from inside 3m.

Aucklander Richard Lee had one of the more remarkable par rounds - a double-bogey seven on his first hole and two other bogeys mixed with four birdies.

Course designer Bob Charles found the going tough, finishing with an 80. Casey Martin, who battled the USPGA through the courts for the right to use a cart because of a leg infirmity, had a two-over 74. Both will need to improve sharply to make the 36-hole cut to 60 players and ties.

Stand aside, Mr President ...

When you play with the President of the US, you could be excused a few nerves. But Bryce Molder shot an incredible 12-under-par 60 for the 18 holes.

The young American, who leads the Clearwater Classic in Christchurch, played with President Bill Clinton in August 1999 on his home course, the Chenal Country Club in Little Rock, Arkansas. The President shot between 85 and 90, said Molder diplomatically yesterday.

How many balls did he use? "With the responsibilities the President has, he can hit as many as he likes."