Open winner four off early pace

Golf Digest/ US TOUR: Pádraig Harrington slipped up on the run home as Americans Michael Allen and Jay Williamson claimed the early lead with first round four-under-par 68s in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, California yesterday.

Harrington dropped two shots over the closing holes to post a first round level par 72.

A bogey at the first hole was cancelled out with birdies at the sixth and ninth holes in a first nine of 35. He moved to two under par with his third birdie of the day at the 10th. However, bogeys at the 13th and 17th took Harrington home in 37 for his 72.

Allen , who started on the 10th, eagled the 18th on his way to a first nine of 33. He added another birdie at the second but dropped his only shot of the round at the third.

However, he hit back with another birdie at the eighth to set the early target with Williamson on 68 with Jeff Quinney and Daniel Chopra on 69.

SUNSHINE TOUR: A mere three days after he cruised to victory in the Nashua Masters, Marc Cayeux paved the way to his 10th Sunshine Tour title with a share of the lead after the first round of the inaugural Africa Open at the Fish River Sun Country Club.

The Zimbabwean fired a one-bogey seven-under-par 65 in sweeping rain and gusty winds to match young gun Jake Roos, who navigated the tough Gary Player layout with no mistakes in the morning.

The pair hold a two-shot cushion over five players, including Grant Muller, Deane Pappas, Jaco Ahlers, Brett Liddle and Desvonde Botes, who are five under.

LET TOUR: England rookie Melissa Reid may be top of the fledgling New Star Money List but she knows maintaining her lofty position will mean her having to put some wins on the board.

Reid finished third in last week's MFS Women's Australian Open, but because Australia's Karrie Webb and South Korea's Ji-Yai Shin are ineligible for the Order of Merit the Englishwoman is currently the European Tour's number one.

She will look to extend her advantage at the ANZ Ladies Masters, which starts today at the Royal Pines Resort after heavy rain forced the cancellation of yesterday's play and the reduction of the tournament to 54 holes.