Rose and Verplank share Bob Hope lead

LOS ANGELES, Jan 19 (Reuters) Britain's Justin Rose twice holed out from bunkers on his way to a tie for the lead with Scott Verplank in the Bob Hope Classic second round at Palm Desert, California.

Four off the pace at the start of a blustery day, the 26-year-old Englishman fired a seven-under-par 65 at La Quinta Country Club to finish on 12-under 132.

That put him level with US Ryder Cup player Verplank, who carded a 66 at the more difficult Classic Club.

Verplank, joint runner-up last year behind winner Chad Campbell, held the outright lead at 13 under before bogeying his final hole, the par-five ninth.

Overnight pacesetter Robert Allenby of Australia carded a 70 at PGA West to lie a stroke further back in third place with Tour rookie Johnson Wagner, after a 67 at the Classic Club.

STUMBLING START Rose, who won his first European Tour title in four years at the Australian Masters two months ago, made a stumbling start yesterday when he bogeyed the par-three third.

But he hit back by holing a bunker shot to eagle the par-five fifth and picked up further shots on six and eight to reach the turn in three-under 33.

Further birdies followed on 10, 11, 12, where he also holed out from the sand, and 18 as he grabbed the early clubhouse lead.

Verplank appeared to be on track to at least match Rose's 65 after reeling off seven birdies in his first 14 holes.

However, he parred the next three holes before dropping his only shot of the day at the ninth.

Of the other big names, Masters champion Phil Mickelson bogeyed his last two holes at PGA West for a second successive 70 to finish eight strokes off the pace.

Former world number one David Duval, winner in 1999 when he closed with a brilliant 59 at PGA West, was at six under after returning a 71 at Bermuda Dunes.

Title-holder Campbell faced an uphill task to make the 72-hole cut after battling to a 74 at La Quinta, ending the day tied for 104th on level-par 144.

Four venues are hosting the 90-hole pro-am celebrity event, the third stop on the 2007 PGA Tour.

Reuters AY GC1020