Rose leads at Disney

By Iain Alman Last updated: 13th November 2009

England's Justin Rose took a one-shot lead after the first round of the Children's Miracle Network Classic on Thursday.

Rose shot a bogey-free 7-under 65 in gusting winds and drizzle to take the slim lead over fellow countryman Greg Owen and Americans Rickie Fowler and Casey Wittenberg.

"Although the courses aren't the most difficult in the world, I guess it's pretty few and far between because it certainly was tricky out there, and even good shots at times weren't going close to the flags because of gusting winds," Rose said. "But I guess I drove the ball well, got it in play on every hole. When I did hit a scratchy iron shot, my short game was really solid, so that equated to bogey-free."

Rose might be leading, but it was rookie sensation Fowler who captured the imaginations of the galleries and journalists. Playing in just his third event as a pro, the 20-year-old is on track to join a illustrious group of players who earned their Tour cards without a visit to qualifying school.

Fowler took the early clubhouse lead with a 40-foot birdie chip on the 18th, ending his round with a scoring streak that included five birdies in his last six holes.

"I'm having a great time out there," said Fowler. "You know, I'm not getting overly excited. I don't let my emotions to get the most of me, at least try not to."

Fowler, who narrowly missed out on a maiden Tour win after losing a three-man play-off at the Frys.com Open, could earn full Tour status if he earns enough money at the Children's Miracle Network Classic, needing a top-ten finish in the last event of the 2009 season to join the likes of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Far from letting the pressure go to his head, the the young gun is keeping things in perspective.

"I definitely think about it off the course," he said. "When I'm out here playing, I'm just trying to get the ball in the hole as fast as I can and get things going."

But the pressure is on for the players trying to keep their cards. Former world no. 1 and Tour stalwart David Duval is in danger of losing his full status after carding a 4-over 76, dropping to second last on the leaderboard. Duval, who started the event 125th on the money list, will need to rally in the second round if he is to have any chance of retaining one of the 125 Tour cards available.

"There's guys grinding for their livelihood out there," said Will MacKenzie, who finished four shots off the lead. "It's tough. I mean, it's tough."

Collated first round scores in the USPGA Tour Children's Miracle Network Classic, at Disney's Magnolia & Disney's Palm GC, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, United States of America.

(USA unless stated, par 72):

Magnolia GC

67 Kris Blanks, Zach Johnson, Rick Price

68 Justin Leonard, Bill Haas, Chris DiMarco, Mathias Gronberg (Swe), Matt Weibring

69 Rod Perry, Matthew Borchert, Tom Pernice Jnr., Peter Lonard (Aus), Jimmy Walker, Rich Beem, Corey Pavin, Stephen Ames (Can)

70 Charles Warren, Chris Riley, Tim Herron, Jeff Overton, Joe Ogilvie, Cameron Beckman, Jay Williamson, Jonathan Byrd

71 Spencer Levin, Aron Price (Aus), Tom Lehman, Harrison Frazar, Derek Fathauer, Ben Crane, Brett Quigley, Ryan Palmer, Ken Duke, Rocco Mediate, Carl Pettersson (Swe), Briny Baird, Jason Gore, James Oh

72 Brian Davis (Eng), Erik Compton, Steve Flesch, Steve Lowery, J.B. Holmes, Fredrik Jacobson (Swe), Tim Petrovic, Marc Turnesa, Nicholas Thompson, Jason Bohn

73 Ricky Barnes, Michael Allen, Brendon Todd, Colt Knost, David Toms, Wil Collins

74 Brad Faxon, Robert Garrigus, Arjun Atwal (Ind), Scott Piercy, Parker McLachlin

75 Brian Vranesh, Jarrod Lyle (Aus)

76 Peter Tomasulo, Billy Mayfair

78 Matthew Jones (Aus)

Palm GC

65 Justin Rose (Eng)

66 Casey Wittenberg, Greg Owen (Eng), Rickie Fowler

67 Will MacKenzie, Cliff Kresge, Matt Bettencourt

68 Daniel Chopra (Swe), George McNeill, Brian Gay, Nick O'Hern (Aus), Chez Reavie

69 Jeff Klauk, Richard S Johnson (Swe), Ted Purdy, Heath Slocum, 70 Patrick Sheehan, Michael Bradley, Patrick Moore, Jeff Quinney, Webb Simpson, Charles Howell III, Joe Durant, Bo Van Pelt, David Mathis, Brendon De Jonge, Kent Jones, Kevin Streelman, Charlie Wi (Kor), John Rollins, Scott Gutschewski, Brandt Snedeker, Johnson Wagner, D.J. Trahan

71 D.A. Points, Aaron Watkins, Jeff Maggert, Darron Stiles, Glen Day, Bob Heintz, Brian Bateman, Jamie Lovemark

72 Mark Calcavecchia, John Merrick, Leif Olson, Tyler Aldridge, Tommy Armour III, Steve Elkington (Aus), Bob Tway

73 Michael Letzig, Eric Axley, Troy Kelly, Shane Bertsch

74 Paul Goydos, Haymes Snedeker, Roland Thatcher, Lee Janzen, Greg Kraft, Todd Hamilton

75 Brad Adamonis, Dean Wilson, John Mallinger

76 David Duval

WD: 73 Davis Love III

Iain Alman