Tucson Chrysler Classic
Omni Tucson National Resort
Tucson, Arizona
19th February - 22nd February 1998

Par 72 Prize Money $2 million

First Round Report

First Round Scores

Leonard takes first round lead

Tucson, Arizona, 19th February 1998 - Justin Leonard, playing what he called his best golf since capturing the 1997 British Open, carded a 7-under-par 65 today (Thursday) to seize the lead after the first round of the $2 million Tucson Chrysler Classic at the Omni Tucson National Resort in Arizona.

Leonard, whose best finish this year was a tie for 25th at the season opening Mercedes Championships, leads 1996 British Open champion Tom Lehman and three-time 1997 winner David Duval by one stroke. Jay Delsing, Jonathon Kaye and David Sutherland are two shots off the lead.

"This is definitely the best I've hit it since the British," said Leonard. "I played a couple of rounds in Phoenix, but, yeah, I'd say this is the best round I have played this year."

John Huston, who set a PGA Tour record with the best four-round score ever last week at the Hawaiian Open, is seven shots off the pace and tied for 69th.

Defending champion Jeff Sluman and Phil Mickelson, a three-time winner at Tucson, were eight shots back and in danger of missing the cut after shooting 73s.

Mickelson won this event as an amateur in 1991 while attending nearby Arizona State University. He won again in 1995 and became the sixth player to repeat at this tournament when he posted a two-stroke victory over Bob Tway in 1996.

Leonard had a wild round that featured nine birdies and two bogeys. He opened with a bogey at 10, missing a 10-foot putt. But he responded with a birdie at 11 and, after two pars, four straight birdies between 14 and 17. In each instance, he sank short putts to move 4-under at the turn.

On the front side, Leonard sank six-foot birdie putts on Nos. 1 and 2 before parring 3 and 4. A solid approach with a wedge left him with another six-footer, which he converted to move to 7-under. Leonard gave the shot back by missing a three-footer from the fringe at No. 6 before capping his round with a birdie at the eighth hole.

"For 18 holes I'd say that this is my best round of the year," concluded Leonard. "I had some good practices last week and came here feeling good. My putting and getting the ball closer to the hole have been missing early this year."

Lehman enjoyed a bogey-free round that saw him at 2-under through 11 holes. But the 1996 Player of the Year caught fire over the final seven holes, posting birdies at Nos. 3, 6, 8 and 9.

The par-72 course measures 7,148 yards.

First prize is $360,000.