Brehaut Bags a Tie for Lead

Jeff Brehaut arrived at the Honda Classic on Monday with an old driver, two wedges he didn’t like and an umbrella. It wasn’t exactly the bag setup he carefully laid out in his garage.

Brehaut’s clubs were stolen from his California home Saturday night, leaving him scrambling to replace them before Thursday’s opening round of the Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

So far, it has been his only struggle.

Brehaut shot a nine-under-par 63 at the Country Club at Mirasol on Thursday, giving him a share of the lead with Justin Leonard and Notah Begay III when play was suspended because of lightning.

“I guess it would be hard to complain today,” said Brehaut, a 39-year-old father of two who retained his tour card by winning the PGA Tour’s qualifying tournament in December.

Esteban Toledo, John Senden and Jim Furyk were one stroke off the lead.

Thirty-eight golfers were on the course when play was halted. They were scheduled to finish the opening round this morning. So far, 31 golfers are at least five under.

Earlier, David Beighle, caddie for Neal Lancaster, collapsed midway through the first round and was in good condition after being treated for dehydration at a local hospital.

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Lorie Kane shot a career-best nine-under 61 to take a one-shot lead in the first round of the Welch’s-Fry’s Championship at Tucson.

Kane, among the LPGA’s top 12 money-winners for six straight years, finished with five consecutive birdies to jump ahead of young pros Tonya Gill and A.J. Eathorne in the tour’s season opener.

Pat Hurst shot a 63 to tie Young Kim and Beth Bader for fourth.

Meg Mallon, Deb Richard, Marnie McGuire and Christina Kim shot 64s.