Date: October 03, 2008
Author:

Allan off to a flyer

Aussie Steve Allan is just one shot off the pace after the opening round of the Turning Stone Championship in Verona, New York. Allan, who is equal second on four-under-par behind leader Jeff Overton (five-under), started on the back nine and picked up birdies at the 15th and 18th. He continued his sound form on the front nine where he reeled off a further two birdies at the 3rd and 5th and after 16 holes was faultless. The Australian then slipped up at the 7th where he registered a bogey but immediately made up for it at the 8th with another birdie. Allan briefly held the clubhouse lead before Overton finished with a flourish, holing three birdies in his final nine holes. Michael Allen is also a shot behind Overton after firing a 68. Allan&aposs compatriot Jason Day, American Tag Ridings and Carlos Franco of Paraguay are tied in fourth at three-under. Mark Hensby is a shot further back on two-under while Matthew Goggin, Robert Allenby and Nick O&aposHern are all on one-under in a tie for 14th spot. Overton shot a five-under-par 67 to take a one-stroke lead. Overton moved atop the leaderboard with a birdie on the 8th, his penultimate hole after starting the round on the back nine. Overton, 25, has yet to win a PGA Tour event with his best finish this year being a tie for ninth at the AT&T National. He has made the cut 45 times in 75 career events, posting six top-10 finishes – including a second place in 2007. The field for this week&aposs Fall Series event includes nine players who already have won this season. Defending champion Steve Flesch, trying to salvage a season which sees him ranked 71st on the money list, is two-over after firing a disappointing 74 in the first round. Turning Stone Resort Championships, New York Results Round 1 (Par 72) -5: Jeff Overton 67 -4: Steve Allan (Australia) 68, Michael Allen 68 -3: Tag Ridings 69, Carlos Franco 69, Jason Day (Australia) 69 -2: Briny Baird 70, Bo Van Pelt 70, Kent Jones 70, Mark Hensby (Australia) 70, Troy Matteson 70, Paul Claxton 70, Scott Sterling 70 -1: Matthew Goggin (Australia) 71, Kevin Stadler 71, Joe Durant 71, Robert Allenby (Australia) 71, Charles Howell III 71, Heath Slocum 71, Nick O Hern (Australia) 71, Brandt Jobe 71, Frank Lickliter II 71, Pat Perez 71, Brad Elder 71, Brian Davis 71, Kyle Thompson 71, Tommy Gainey Also: +1: Steve Elkington (Australia) 73, Rod Pampling (Australia) 73, Nathan Green (Australia) 73, John Senden (Australia) 73, Tim Wilkinson (New Zealand) 73, Brett Rumford (Australia) 73 +2: Matt Jones (Australia) 74, Nick Flanagan (Australia) 74 +3: Danny Lee (New Zealand) 75 +5: David Lutterus (Australia) 77 +6: Peter Lonard (Australia) 78