Australian Steve Elkington opens the second round Friday of golf's BellSouth Classic in Duluth, Georgia with a one-shot lead over American and world number-two Phil Mickelson.
Elkington birdied the final three holes and carded an eight-under-par 64 in the first round Thursday. Elkington led a birdie barrage at the TPC at Sugarloaf, overcoming a double-bogey on the third hole with a remarkable seven birdies on the front.
Mickelson, who won the BellSouth Classic two years ago, is one stroke ahead of a group of five players that includes American Dudley Hart, Frank Nobilo of New Zealand, Canadian Ian Leggattt and Swedes Thomas Bjorn and Jesper Parnevik. In all, 25 players are within four shots of the lead, while 75 of the 143 players in the field broke par by the end of the opening round. The tournament is a warmup for the first major of the year, the Masters, later this month.