Fri May 30 21:23:59 2008

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Eaks and Nielsen share first at Principal Charity Classic

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West Des Moines, IA (Sports Network) - R.W. Eaks and Lonnie Nielsen both shot rounds of five-under 66 on Friday to share the first-round lead of the Principal Charity Classic.

Joey Sindelar, Mark McNulty, Tom Purtzer and Kirk Hanefeld posted four-under 67s and are tied for third place at Glen Oaks Country Club.

There was a lengthy delay to start the first round, but all players completed the round on Friday.

Eaks first broke into red figures on Friday with an 18-foot birdie putt at the par-three fifth after a beautiful four-iron tee ball. He wedged his approach inside four feet to set up birdie at the seventh, then two-putted from 50 feet for a birdie at the par-five ninth.

Eaks hit a great seven-iron to 10 feet and converted the birdie putt at 12. His next birdie came at the par-three 16th when his eight-iron stopped four feet from the stick.

The first hiccup of the round for Eaks came at the long, par-four 17th. He three-putted for a bogey, but closed his round in spectacular fashion. Eaks played a seven-iron to three feet and tapped in the short birdie putt for his share of the lead.

"Lucky birdie on No. 18," acknowledged Eaks. "I think it was the only fairway I missed. I love this golf course. I enjoy playing here and feel good on this course."

Nielsen began on the 10th tee Friday and promptly saved par from 15 feet at No. 10. He rolled in a pair of eight-foot birdie putts at 13 and 14, then kicked in a short birdie putt at the par-five 15th.

He saved par from 12 feet at the 17th, but could not save par from 10 feet at the second. Nielsen atoned for the error at with a 15-footer for birdie at the third.

Nielsen saved a nice par from seven feet at the fourth and reached four-under par for the championship with a long birdie putt at the par-three fifth hole.

Nielsen topped his second shot from the side of a hill at his final hole, the par-five ninth. He hit a wedge to 18 feet with his third, then drained the birdie putt to join Eaks.

"I made a lot of good left-to-right putts today which is not my forte," said Nielsen. "This course looks perfect for me. I feel like I can play now like I expected I would."

Loren Roberts held a share of the lead, but back-to-back bogeys to close his round left him at three-under 69. He is tied for seventh place with Clarence Rose.

Denis Watson, Craig Stadler, Jim Thorpe and John Cook headline a group tied for ninth at minus-two.

Jay Haas, who survived last week at Oak Hill to win the Senior PGA Championship, started his title defense on Friday with a one-under 71. He is part of a group tied for 20th place.