Date: February 29, 2008
Author: Sportal

Jones right in the hunt

Australian Matt Jones has carded a four-under par round of 66 to be just two strokes from the lead after the opening round of the Honda Classic in Florida. The New South Welshman began the day slowly with a bogey on the second hole but quickly made amends with four birdies on the front nine to be three-under par at the turn. Jones, who has made the cut in all of his five starts on the PGA Tour this year, continued to press on the back nine and finished the day well within striking distance of the leader. Englishman Luke Donald, who won the event in 2006, leads the field after shooting a six-under par 64 with his compatriot Brian Davis in second position at five-under par. Donald tore up the Champions Course at Palm Beach Gardens with six birdies and no bogeys for the day. His round was the best the tournament had seen in three years since Irishman Padraig Harrington shot a final-round 63 to win in 2005. New Zealander Tim Wilkinson remains well in the hunt at three-under par alongside South African Ernie Els, Americans Kevin Sutherland, Jimmy Quigley and Brett Walker. Robert Allenby was the second best Australian in the field at one-under par while Matthew Goggin, Peter Lonard, Nathan Green and Jason Day all finished at one-over par. Defending champion Mark Wilson struggled to a three-over 73 after faltering down the stretch and bogeyed three of his last five holes while he also double-bogeyed the par four sixth.