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By Joe Chemycz
PGA TOUR Media Official

PALM DESERT, Calif. -- The start of play in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic was delayed on Wednesday morning due to frost; overnight temperatures reached 27 degrees in the area. Starting times were pushed back between 30 and 60 minutes at the various courses.

• Ben Crane (back) withdrew prior to the round and was replaced in the field by Doug LaBelle. Fred Couples (leg) withdrew prior to the round and was replaced in the field by Mark Wilson.

• Olin Browne (wrist/hand) withdrew prior to the round. Browne's place in the Pro-Am portion of the event was taken by Troy Kelly, a 28-year old Nationwide Tour rookie from Tacoma, Wash. Kelly will participate only in the Pro-Am portion this week and not in the full-field portion of the tournament, leaving a total of 127 players competing for the tournament purse of $5 million.

• Robert Allenby grabbed the first-round lead with a 9-under-par 63 at LaQuinta Country Club. His bogey-free round included nine birdies and nine 3s. This is Allenby's fifth career start in this event, with his T11 in 1999 and T12 in 2000 his only top-25 finishes. His previous low round in the BHCC was an opening 65 in 2001.

• Robert Allenby's 9-under-par 63 was one shot off the Melbourne, Australia native/resident's career low. Allenby's best is a 62 in the second round of the 2002 Air Canada Championship, where he tied for third. And his 63 was two strokes off the LaQuinta CC course record of 61 set by Lennie Clements in 1994 (third round).

• Robert Allenby's 63 ties the third-lowest opening-round score in Bob Hope Chrysler Classic history. Pat Perez shot a 60 in the opening round last year (PGA WEST) and David Edwards shot a 61 at Indian Wells CC in 1987. Allenby becomes the 21st player in BHCC history to shoot a 63 in the opening round.

• Robert Allenby's 63 gave him a two-stroke lead after the first round. The largest 18-hole lead in tournament history is three strokes -- Pat Perez (2206), Craig Stadler (1983) and Rik Massengale (1977).

• A total of 11 first-round leaders/co-leaders have gone on to win the BHCC, but none have turned the trick since Mark Brooks in 1996. Brooks and Brian Kamm shared the first-day lead with 66s. Coincidentally, Mark Calcavecchia was one shot off the first-day lead back then.

• Charley Hoffman, making his first career start at the BHCC, shot a 6-under 66 at Bermuda Dunes CC. Hoffman had no bogeys on his scorecard Wednesday.

• Craig Kanada, also making his first career start in this event, shot a bogey-free, 7-under-par at Bermuda Dunes CC. Kanada won the season-ending 2006 Nationwide Tour Championship to jump from No. 32 to No. 11 on the money list and earn his PGA TOUR card for 2007.

• Mark Calcavecchia shot a 7-under-par 65 at The Classic Club. The 65 is the second-lowest opening round for Calcavecchia in his 17 career starts in the BHCC. The 12-time PGA TOUR winner shot opening-day 64s in 1997 (2nd) and 2001 (T3).

• Low scores at the four tournament courses on opening day were 65 at The Classic Club by Mark Calcavecchia; 63 at LaQuinta Country Club by Robert Allenby; 66 at PGA WEST by Scott Verplank and Tripp Isenhour; and 65 at Bermuda Dunes Country Club by Craig Kanada.

• Defending champion Chad Campbell posted a 2-under-par 70 at Bermuda Dunes Country Club. He opened with a 63 last year at Bermuda Dunes CC.

• Two-time tournament winner Phil Mickelson (2002, 2004) shot a 2-under-par 70. Mickelson had seven birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey on his LaQuinta CC scorecard. This is Mickelson's ninth career start at the BHCC and the 70 marks the 32nd straight round that he has posted a par or better score in this event. The last time he was above par at the BHCC was a third-round 76 in 1994.

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