Two Share Lead in Principal Charity Classic


Mark Calcavecchia and Wes Short Jr. each shot 6-under 66s to take a share of the 18-hole lead in the Principal Charity Classic. The $1.75 million Champions Tour event began Friday at Wakonda Golf Club in Des Moines.

The 53-year-old Calcavecchia, a native of Nebraska, posted six birdies, while Short, a rookie on the over-50 circuit, had five birdies, an eagle on the par-5 15th, and a bogey for his 66.

One stroke behind the pacesetters are Australian Peter Senior and Americans Bobby Clampett and Steve Lowery.

Sharing sixth after 68s are Doug Garwood, Scott Simpson, John Riegger, Tom Pernice Jr., Michael Allen, Mark Mouland, Marco Dawson and Jeff Coston. Coston is a teaching pro from Blaine, Wash.

Three strokes behind the co-leaders are Wayne Levi, Rick Fehr, Joe Durant, Rocco Mediate, Jay Haas, Tom Lehman, Kirk Triplett and Tommy Armour III.

Defending champion Russ Cochran got off to a tough start. The 55-year-old Kentuckian had seven bogeys and a birdie for a 78 and is in last place heading into Saturday's second round.

Scotland's Colin Montgomerie, who won last week's Senior PGA Championship in Michigan for his first Champions Tour title, withdrew before the start of the Principal Charity Classic due to personal issues he had to deal with in the UK.

For updated scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/champions/leaderboard.html.