lameley leads bob hope

Derek Lamely shot a 9-under 63 in the first round on Wednesday to take a one-stroke lead over J.J. Henry and Jhonattan Vegas in the PGA Tour’s Bob Hope Classic.

“This is going to be definitely not a sprint,” Lamely said of the five-round event. “The golf courses are perfect. The weather is just so good. You’ve just got to go out and stay aggressive every hole. Hopefully you can get hot and make a bunch of putts, and I actually got that going today.”

Lamely had five birdies and an eagle in his six-hole run for the best stretch on the PGA Tour since Brandt Snedeker strung together an 8-under, seven-hole roll in early 2007 at Torrey Pines.

The 30-year-old Lamely was the only American rookie to win last year, although the Puerto Rico Open was an opposite-field event. After making major changes to his grip and swing shortly before winning in Puerto Rico, his biggest goal this winter is to win again in time to qualify for the Masters.

“At the end of last year, I started hitting it good, and I’ve been hitting it better and better as it goes on,” Lamely said. “I keep getting better at the few things I’ve changed, so it’s finally getting to the point where I can think my way around and just make some putts.”

Henry holed a 132-yard wedge shot on his first hole at the Nicklaus Private course, but didn’t get rolling until making six birdies in eight holes around the turn, finishing his season debut with his best round in seven career appearances at the Hope.