Irish pair well off pace in Sun City

WORLD CUP: Ireland's Rebecca Coakley and Hazel Kavanagh made a disappointing start to the Women's World Cup of Golf at Sun City in South Africa yesterday - but Scotland were well placed in a tie for third place.

Both Irish players shot 80 and with a total of 160 are 21 shots behind first round leaders Paraguay with South Korea four back on 143.

For Scotland, Mhairi McKay had a three under par 69, the joint best score of the day, and Janice Moodie had a 76 to put the Scots in on one-over-par 145, the same mark as Italy.

England also disappointed with Laura Davies (78) and Trish Johnson (76) were 15 shots off the lead after a day in which they did not manage a birdie between them.

Davies said: "It was a bit disappointing but we'll just have to try and make up something over the weekend."

The format changes to foursomes tomorrow and fourballs in the final round on Sunday.

Scotland were second behind Sweden last year, and McKay was in great form with six birdies, five coming in a back nine of 31.

Welsh pair Becky Morgan and Becky Brewerton, who finished third last year, both shot 74 and were handily-placed in sixth place on four over par.

BOB HOPE CHRYSLER CLASSIC: Second round leaders Justin Rose and Scott Verplank are tied at the top of the leaderboard at 16 under par midway through the third round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

Verplank was four under for the round after nine holes, while Englishman Rose had made four birdies in his first five holes.

Lucas Glover and John Rollins were four strokes behind at 12 under par. Glover was five under through 14 holes and Rollins two under after seven.

Rose and Verplank began the day with a two-stroke lead and Verplank shot a 32 on the front nine.

Rose began on the back nine and eagled his second hole and added back-to-back birdies on his fourth and fifth holes.

Phil Mickelson, who is the only player in the top 30 of the world rankings entered in the event, was three under par for the day, seven under for the tournament, and nine strokes behind the leaders.

TOUR NEWS: Father-to-be Tiger Woods was in animated mood as he prepared for his title defence at next week's Buick Invitational outside San Diego.

Woods, whose Swedish wife Elin is expected to give birth to their first child in July, will be bidding for a seventh consecutive victory on the PGA Tour at Torrey Pines.

"Needless to say I'm excited about 2007, Finding out I'm going to become a father this summer feels pretty darn great."

Woods, who will be making his first appearance on the 2007 PGA Tour next week, has not played tournament golf since winning last month's Target World Challenge in California.