Allenby up by a shot at Honda Classic

2009-03-06

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PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida (Ticker) - Robert Allenby holds a one-stroke edge entering Friday’s second round of the Honda Classic.

Allenby shot a 4-under-par 66 Thursday at PGA National to move a shot clear of six players, including Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Stewart Cink.

Play was suspended due to darkness with nine players left on the course - they will conclude their rounds early Friday ahead of second-round action.

Although he has not won on the PGA Tour since 2001, Allenby had nine top-10 finishes in 2008. The Australian reached 4-under through 13 holes before alternating two birdies and two bogeys over his final four holes.

Garcia is looking to rebound from a first-round ouster in last week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play.

The world’s second-ranked player reeled off four birdies over his opening nine holes, but could only manage eight pars and a bogey on the back side.

Unlike Garcia, Cink is looking to build on an impressive showing at the Match Play in which he finished third.

Cink overcame bogeys at Nos. 14 and 16 to sink a putt for a birdie at the par-5 18th hole, giving him a temporary share of the lead. The American had been flawless on the front nine with four birdies.

Also at 3-under are Charlie Wi, Jeff Overton, Angel Cabrera and Will MacKenzie.

Defending champion Ernie Els fell into an early hole after signing for a 73. The South African had two birdies against five bogeys.

Last year, Els came from three strokes back to eventually edge Luke Donald by a stroke. It was Els first win on the PGA Tour as well as his first triumph in the U.S. since 2004.

Els has had a solid start to the new season. He finished tied for fifth at the Match Play, winning three times before getting knocked off by Cink in the quarterfinals. Els also recorded a top-10 finish at the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship where he tied for eighth.

First prize at this $5.6 million event is just over $1 million.