Print this page  |  Close Window

By John Bush
PGA TOUR Staff

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. -- Chris Anderson overhauled his golf game this week and the changes are paying immediate dividends at the $525,000 Mark Christopher Charity Classic presented by the County of San Bernardino.

Chris Anderson hit 11 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens in regulation on Thursday. (Feldman/WireImage)

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

ANDERSON THRU 18 HOLES

Category Total Rank Eagles 0 N/A Birdies 9 1 Pars 7 143 Bogeys 2 T85 Double Bogeys 0 N/A Other 0 N/A Driving Accuracy 78.6% T5 Driving Distance 296.0 yds. T59 Greens in Regulation 77.8% T13 Putts per Round 25.0 T3 Putts per GIR 1.429 3 Sand Saves 0 N/A

• Chris Anderson's Player Page

Anderson opened with a 7-under 64 Thursday to take a one-stroke advantage over the foursome of Jon Mills, Brenden Pappas, Tim Wilkinson and Richard Johnson.

"It was a good day because I was actually uncertain of a lot of things coming into the day," said Anderson, who hit 11 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens in regulation. "I did a lot of stuff with my coach the first three days this week and I didn't know how that stuff would take. Obviously things worked out pretty good for me."

One of the biggest changes for the 36-year-old native of West Covina, Calif., was the utilization of a belly putter for the first time in his career. Anderson came into the week ranked 87th in putts per round with a 29.88 average, but he needed just 25 putts on Thursday.

"I switched to a belly putter for the first time in my life on Monday," said Anderson. "I don't know what I'm doing with it. I don't even know how to use it ... which is probably a good thing."

Anderson, the winner of the 2004 SAS Carolina Classic, posted nine birdies on the day with his only bogeys coming at the par-4 sixth hole and the par-5 11th hole. While the putter was working well, many would point to solid iron play for his success -- evidenced by eight of his birdies coming within 10 feet.

Having grown up in California, Anderson is hoping to follow in the footsteps of 2006 MCCC winner Kevin Na, who called the par-71 Empire Lakes Golf Club his home course. Anderson could use a boost, as he sits No. 98 on the money list, with a tie for 11th at the Rochester Area Charities Showdown at Somerby his best outing.

"I haven't played that bad but my weekends have been awful," said Anderson. "I just haven't been making enough putts this year to shoot a low round."

Anderson makes no bones about his desire to win the tournament, which is hosted just east of Los Angeles, and approximately 20 miles from Covina.

"A lot of guys like Jerry Kelly talk about the tournaments which are near their home being their majors," said Anderson. "It would be really special to win this one. I've played here about 50 times. Not a lot, but enough to know the course pretty well."

Plenty of competition will be chasing Anderson heading into the final 54 holes. Among the challengers within shouting distance are Mills (65) -- who is coming off of a win at the Albertsons Boise Open and has finished inside the top 16 in his last five starts -- and Jason Day (68) -- who is currently ranked third on the money list and has finished inside the top 15 in eight out of his last 10 starts.

First-Round News & Notes: The international flavor of the Nationwide Tour is on display after round one among the top five players on the leaderboard, including Chris Anderson (United States), Brenden Pappas (South Africa), Tim Wilkinson (New Zealand), Richard Johnson (Wales) and Jon Mills (Canada). ... Famed saxophonist Kenny G, playing this week on a sponsor's exemption, opened with a 7-over 78 and is in 139th place. ... Leading money-winner Roland Thatcher struggled to a 5-over 76. ... Monday Qualifier Zach Miller (71) had a hole-in-one on the ninth hole with a 4-iron from 214 yards. It was the 29th ace of the season and the ninth in tournament history. ... This marks the first time in Chris Anderson's career that he has held the first-round lead in a Nationwide Tour event. ... Through the first 27 events, Martin Laird (Athens Regional Foundation Classic), Kyle Thompson (Rex Hospital Open) and Franklin Langham (Utah EnergySolutions Championship) are the only first-round leaders to go on to victory. In 13 previous playings of the Mark Christopher Charity Classic, four players have carried the first-round lead on to victory -- including most recently Kevin Na in 2006, who won in wire-to-wire fashion. ... Bogey-free rounds on Thursday were posted by Tim Wilkinson (65), Richard Johnson (65), Tee McCabe (66) and Ronnie Black (68). ... Sunday's winner will take home $94,500 out of the $525,000, marking the third straight season the tournament's purse has increased.