Bertsch seizes PGA Bob Hope lead

LA QUINTA, California (AFP) - Shane Bertsch nabbed 10 birdies in a 10-under 62 to seize the first-round lead at the five-round Bob Hope Classic.

Bertsch completed his bogey-free effort even as he shrugged off scattered rain showers and offered putting advice to his pro-am playing partners.

"I was just comfortable," Bertsch said. "I always like these formats, because I help the guys out, and it keeps me maybe not so focused on myself until it's time to hit, and then I just go and hit."

Alex Prugh and Jeff Quinney shared second on 64, while JP Hayes, George McNeill, Joe Ogilvie and Garrett Willis were three strokes back.

Heath Slocum, who skipped last week's Sony Open in Hawaii as his wife gave birth, was among half a dozen players on 66.

While rain swept through much of Southern California, the desert venue stayed dry until Wednesday afternoon.

"It was Palm Springs golf - not a lot of wind, starting to warm up," Slocum said. "And then all of a sudden when I made the turn, it definitely kicked right back up.

"The wind started blowing, and it cooled off. I put the sweater back on, and

obviously golf is a little more difficult."

But it seemed easy for Bertch, who missed just two greens and three fairways, needing onl 25 putts in his round.

His effort came despite a difficult week, in which his flight from the Sony Open was cancelled.

He and his family flew Monday nigght from Hawaii to Phoenix, then Bertch drove his recreational vehicle across the desert to Palm Springs.

Bertsch, Quinney and Prugh all played the Nicklaus Private course, one of four in use for the tournament and considered one of the easiest on the US tour.

Bertsch hadn't played the layout since the 1990s, and didn't get a chance to practice because of his travel problems.

"It was like a new adventure over every hill," Bertsch said. "I didn't know really what to expect. It was one of those courses I just didn't remember a lot about."

While Wednesday's weather wasn't much of a problem, heavier rain was expected on Thursday.

"It was moist. It wasn't wet," said Hayes, who is making his season debut. "We played the ball up, (but) we didn't really have to. It's probably more in anticipation of what might come than what was today."

The 90-hole Hope event, played opposite the European Tour's Abu Dhabi Championship, is somewhat lacking in star-power.

Canadian Mike Weir, ranked 37th in the world, was the top-ranked player in the field.