Pampling sets pace in Colorado

Rodney Pampling set the pace at the International with a seven-under-par 65 worth 15 points in the modified Stableford format at Castle Pines in Colorado.

The 34-year-old Australian is one point ahead of fellow countryman Geoff Ogilvy and Argentina’s Jose Coceres.

Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal and American Tom Lehman are two points back.

But only half the field completed the first round due to an afternoon thunderstorm – a regular occurrence at this time of the year in the front range of the Rockies.

Pampling, who is famous for being the first-round leader at the 1999 British Open only to miss the cut after a second-round 86, is in his third season on the PGA Tour.

He is currently 85th on this year’s money list but arrived here having missed three cuts in his past four starts.

“At the moment my swing feels really nice,” Pampling said. “Hitting every fairway, with the rough as thick as it is, that’s a big bonus.

“With the rain we had yesterday, the course is playing a little softer, so once you hit the fairways you can be a little more aggressive.”

Defending champion Davis Love did himself no harm with eight points, while Ernie Els birdied the last to finish with four points. Els is playing his first event since losing to Todd Hamilton in a play-off at last month’s British Open at Troon.

Under the format, players receive eight points for double eagle, five for eagle, two for birdie, zero for par, and lose one point for bogey and three for double bogey or worse.