Australian Robert Allenby led the Sun City Challenge by a stroke after a first-round 68 at the Gary Player Country Club Thursday. Allenby carded a bogey-free round, featuring three birdies on the front nine and one on the back. After hitting the first shot of the tournament straight down the middle and making a safe par, the Presidents Cup International team member went on to make the most of the par-fives with birdies on the second, ninth and 14th holes. His other birdie came at the par-four fifth. Home players Retief Goosen and Tim Clark led the challenge to Allenby with both South Africans scoring three-under-par 69. Clark recorded four birdies and one bogey in his round, the high point of which was the 30-foot birdie putt he holed on the 17th. Goosen reached four-under with four birdies in the first 12 holes but the former US Open champion dropped three shots when he bogeyed the 14th and double-bogeyed the 15th. He made up for it by holing a sand wedge shot from 120 meters for an eagle on the par-four 17th. Last year's winner Henrik Stenson of Sweden was on two under with compatriot Robert Karlsson and American Hunter Mahan. Masters champion Angel Cabrera was the only other member of the 12-man field to break par. He finished with a one-under-par 71. Two share lead A three-putt bogey at the last dropped home favorite Stuart Appleby into a tie for the lead with compatriot Scott Hend on six-under-par after a blustery first round at the Australian Open Thursday. Eight-time PGA Tour winner Appleby raced into an early lead at the New South Wales Golf Club after seven birdies in his opening 12 holes, including holing a bunker shot for a birdie two at the 11th. However, the 2001 champion saw his charge halted with a bogey five at the par-four 12th. He bounced back with a birdie three at the 16th but closed with a bogey six at the par-five 18th for a 66 to leave him tied at the top with Hend. The 35-year-old Hend, who tied for third at the Singapore Open last month, enjoyed calmer conditions as an early starter, recording eight birdies and two bogeys in his 66. Former world No. 3 Adam Scott, bidding for a first professional title on home soil, was just two shots back in a tie for fifth after an eagle three at the par five 12th helped him to a 68. John Daly donned a typically loud yellow and purple outfit for his eventful level par round which included six bogeys, four birdies and an eagle to leave him in a tie for 28th. Scandal robs tournament of Tiger touch Tiger Woods' rivals would rather see the world's top golfer stalking the course than licking his wounds, but it won't happen this week at the Chevron World Challenge. Woods is the host of the elite post-season event to benefit his charitable foundation. But the superstar was back home in Florida as his guests prepared to tee off at Sherwood Country Club, having responded to a spiraling scandal with a brief, cryptic apology via website. It remained to be seen if Woods' request for privacy would be heeded and the storm of speculation and allegations taper off. But an admission of “transgressions” from a man who has taken golf to unprecedented levels of popularity made for an awkward start to the week.
