US trio make an early mark

AMERICANS Paul Goydos, Mark O'Meara and Glen Day shared the first round lead in the $1

AMERICANS Paul Goydos, Mark O'Meara and Glen Day shared the first round lead in the $1.2 million PGA Bay Hill Invitational after going round in five under par 67 in Orlando yesterday. They were one stroke clear of Bob Lohr, while eight other Americans were level on 69.

Australia's Greg Norman, the world's top ranked player, had a par 72 while US PGA money leader Phil Mickelson fired a 75. Britain's Sandy Lyle and Nick Faldo and Zimbabwean Nick Price finished alongside Norman on level par 72. Ernie Els and Bernhard Langer both carded 73.

Loren Roberts, trying to become the first PGA player to win his first three titles at the same event for three consecutive years, had a 75. The reigning champion would become the first three time winner in the 30 year history of the event, and the first to win the same PGA event three consecutive years since Tom Watson won the Byron Nelson from 78-80.