D.J. Trahan, Robert Gamez share Round 2 lead in Bob Hope Chrysler Classic

From WorldGolf.com News Services

While all five first-round leaders slipped into the back of the field at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic Thursday, D.J. Trahan and Robert Gamez stepped forward to share the top spot on the leaderboard.

Trahan made the biggest move to get there, shooting an 8-under-par 64 at Silver Rock Golf Club to reach 13-under 131 in the 90-hole event played on four different golf courses in the Palm Desert, Calif., area. Gamez followed his first-round 66 with a 7-under 65 at La Quinta Country Club to gain a share of the lead.

Trahan had an excellent start, opening on the back nine with four consecutive birdies and another at No. 17 to make the turn in 31. After a bogey at the first hole, he responded with birdies on holes three, five, six and seven.

Trahan's day could've been even more spectacular. He missed a short putt for a fifth consecutive birdie to start his round at No. 14 and also failed to convert a par-saving putt on the first hole.

"I've been working hard on my putter," Trahan said. "Obviously, I know now this is my fourth year out here and I know that it's been the club that has certainly been holding me back from becoming a better player and having better results.

"I've kind of newly rededicated myself to working my butt off with that club so that I can get it where it needs to be."

The 27-year-old Trahan is in his fourth year on the PGA Tour. He has one tour victory, the 2006 Southern Farm Bureau Classic.

While Justin Leonard described the Hope Classic as a putting contest, Trahan said he doesn't necessarily feel like he's at a disadvantage.

"I'm going to believe that I'm getting better with the putter every day and, obviously, the results are starting to show," Trahan said. "I've just got to keep working hard and keep heading in the right direction."

Matthew Goggin, Tim Petrovic, Shigeki Maruyama, Joe Durant and Omar Uresti all shared the first-round lead after shooting 7-under 65 on Wednesday. However, only Petrovic (70) managed to shoot under par in round two.

Justin Leonard tied for the low round of the day with an 8-under 64 at La Quinta and is alone in third place at 12-under 132. Steve Elkington carded a 68 at PGA West and stood fourth at 10-under 134.

Petrovic, Brett Rumford, Ben Crane, Scott Verplank, Kyle Thompson and Jeff Quinney are tied for fifth at 9-under 135.

The first four rounds of the tournament feature a pro-am played on four different courses, including the Classic Club. The Classic Club will be the site for Sunday's final round, which includes the top 70 professional players and ties.

Gamez, whose last PGA Tour victory came in 2005, was efficient in carding his bogey-free round. He had four birdies on the front nine at La Quinta and three more on the back.

"It was just a good solid round all together," Gamez told reporters. "I played well tee to green and when I did miss a shot I kind of got a couple good breaks. I think a couple tree monkeys threw my ball out a couple times, like on No. 2 and No. 10.

"But other than that I played really well, a good solid round of golf, and made a few putts. And that's how you shoot 65."

Gamez, who missed the cut in last week's Sony Open, didn't find out that he'd received a sponsor's exemption to play the Hope Classic until the first week of January. The 39-year-old tour veteran said he was extremely happy he got the call.

"I would have hated missing this tournament," Gamez said. "It's in my top five of the year on tour. I just love playing it, and I love being here."

January 18, 2008