Howell storms ahead with round of 61

Charles Howell III shot 28 on his inward nine as he registered a 10-under-par 61 to strorm into the lead after the first round of the Booz Allen Classic on Thursday.

One of the day's back-nine starters, Howell reached the turn on two-under-par before blitzing the course to forge a three-stroke advantage.

After a par at the first hole, his 10th, Howell pencilled in nothing but threes on his scorecard the rest of the round, with two pars, four birdies and two eagles.

Howell's score, which broke the course record of 62 at the TPC at Avenel set by David Duval in the second round of last season's tournament, gave him a useful advantage over former champion Rich Beem and Olin Browne.

Jeff Sluman stands alone in fourth place after a 65.

Tour veteran Blaine McCallister, former British Open champion Tom Lehman, Billy Mayfair and Australia's Adam Scott and Scott Hend share fifth place on 66.

Howell's brilliant 18 holes were in stark contrast to his last competitive round, a 13-over-par 83 on the final day of the U.S. Open last Sunday.

The 25-year-old from Augusta had eight birdies, two eagles, two bogeys and just six pars.

"It was one of those funny days where everything tends to work your way, and the best that you can do is get out of the way and just let it continue to happen," Howell said.

"Some people call it a zone or flow. It's very strange.

"The best way to describe it is you get a feeling that you can do nothing wrong."

The score was also the lowest competitive round for Howell, whose previous best had been an eight-under 62 in the second round of the 2002 Sony Open.

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