Mahan leads Canadian Open with historic round

MARKHAM, Ontario, July 27 (Reuters) American Hunter Mahan equalled the lowest 18-hole score in Canadian Open history to take a two-stroke lead after the first round. .

The 25-year-old Mahan's 9-under par score of 62 yesterday included three eagles, one on the par-five, 536-yard 11th.

Mahan's round at the 103-year-old tournament put him in the same company as Leonard Thompson, Andy Bean and Greg Norman, who also fired rounds of 62 in 1981, 1983 and 1986 respectively.

''To have that mark is pretty special, especially in a tournament like this that's been around forever, so that's kind of neat,'' Mahan told reporters.

Australian Steve Allan was alone in second place after carding an eight-birdie 64, one stroke ahead of American Tripp Isenhour and Canada's David Hearn.

Taking advantage of excellent conditions on Angus Glen's North Course, Mahan rattled up three eagles, five birdies and two bogeys.

''It was crazy,'' said the 25-year-old Californian, who took home his first PGA Tour title at the Travelers Championship last month. ''Two hole-outs on the fairway, things I've never done before.'' Mahan raced to the turn in six-under 30 after eagling the 11th and holing out with a six-iron from 189 yards at the par-four 18th, his ninth hole of the day.

After bogeying the par-four second, Mahan birdied the fourth and sixth before signing off with another eagle at the par-four ninth where he holed out with a sand wedge from 81 yards.

Jim Furyk, the world number three who is bidding to become the first player to win successive Canadian Open titles in 56 years, is seven shots back, while world number seven Vijay Singh, champion at Glen Abbey in 2004, is six shots off.

No other golfers from the world's top 30 are playing the event, which is sandwiched between last week's British Open and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Canadian Mike Weir, considered a legitimate contender coming into the tournament after an eighth-place finish at the British Open, was even par after a round that included four birdies and four bogeys.

Fellow Canadian Stephen Ames, also considered a potential winner, is eight shots back at one under par.

Reuters BJR VP0438