EAST LONDON, South Africa – John Hahn had six birdies and an eagle in his back nine for a 10-under 61 to lead the Africa Open by two shots before the second round was postponed by darkness Friday.

American Hahn did finish after a 90-minute morning rain delay, and took just 28 strokes to come home after starting on No. 10 to go 16 under. He surged ahead of first-round leader Ricardo Santos, who shot a 5-under 66 to be 14 under overall.

Oliver Fisher and David Horsey were chasing at East London Golf Club, with Fisher third on 13 under after his 63 and Horsey another shot back after a 64.

Hahn’s putter was hot with three birdies and an eagle in four holes after the turn to give the U.S. qualifying school graduate a chance at a first career win.

Nike Golf’s new Innovation Woven Cover-up, which moves with the body while keeping golfers warm and dry, combines comfort, warmth and protection.

“Golfers love wearing sweaters on the course. They’re soft and warm, and easy to move in, unlike a lot of jackets,” says Merritt Richardson, VP of Global Golf Apparel. “With the Innovation Woven Cover-up, there’s no need to choose one over the other or add layers. It’s the best of both worlds.”

Part of Nike Golf’s Stay Protected line, the Innovation Woven Cover-up features two technologies merged into one unique, hybrid design. The lightweight wind-and-water resistant Dri-FIT stretch woven body–the ‘jacket’–is breathable and protects against the elements. The 3D knit sleeves–the ‘sweater’–keeps warmth in and amplifies movement through the arms and shoulders.

“We’ve done a lot of research around the thermal properties of 3D knit and increased articulation for a better fit,” adds Richardson. “The knit is fabricated to be higher in certain zones to trap heat and offer flexibility, and dialed in around places like the elbow to reduce material and weight.”

The Nike Innovation Woven Cover-up, available now for $130, features a bonded seam down the back, eliminating stitching and added distractions. A traditional collar offers additional protection from chilly temperatures and wind.

MELBOURNE, Australia – Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall had a hole in one as part of a 7-under par 65 that gave her a one-shot lead after Friday’s second round of the women’s Australian Open.

Hedwall aced the par-3 16th and also eagled the par-5 eighth along with five birdies and two bogeys to reach 11-under 133, one shot ahead of world No. 2 Suzanne Pettersen of Norway.

Pettersen, who shot 66 to lead after the first round, had a 68 at Victoria Golf Club which included five birdies and one bogey. Australian amateur Minjee Lee was a further shot back at 9-under after a 67.

Four-time LPGA winner Lorie Kane of Charlottetown and and Toronto’s Rebecca Lee-Bentham were tied for 49th. Kane matched her opening round score of 71 while Lee-Bentham followed her opening 73 with a 69.

Alena Sharp of Hamilton was tied for 77th shot a 71 after opening with a 74

Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont., was in a tie for 111th after shooting a 76, and behind her was Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrook, Que., who shot a 70 after opening with a 79.

Hedwall said she wasn’t aware she had a hole in one at 16 until she reached the green.

“I couldn’t see it and the crowd didn’t want to yell because Laura (Davies) was hitting off on No. 17, so we walked up there and they were like, ‘it went in’,” Hedwall said.

“Yesterday I hit a full 7-iron over the green (for bogey at 16) and it was basically the same yardage today. So I hit a softer 7-iron. It covered the pin the whole way and I just saw it bounce once and hit the pin but I didn’t see it go in.”

Fellow Swede Anna Nordqvist had the round of the day with a 64 which set a new course record for women, and was tied for fourth at 8-under with Holly Clyburn of England and world No. 4 Lydia Ko of New Zealand.

Hedwall’s ace at 16 gave her the outright lead but she briefly lost it to Minjee Lee before her birdie, eagle, birdie finish.

“I’m driving pretty well,” Hedwall said. “I missed a couple of drives yesterday and today but I managed to save a couple of bogeys and I’m still making a lot of birdies and also eagles.”

The 17-year-old Lee, who was runner-up at last week’s Women’s Australian Masters, is vying again for a tournament victory after a second round which included an eagle and three birdies.

“It was such a slow start,” Lee said. “I started with nine pars. I was just patient and it came together late in the round.”

Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Toronto, fired a 69 Friday to climb into a tie for 49th at 2-under. She’s tied with fellow Canadians Sue Kim (70) of Langley, B.C. and Lorie Kane (71) of Charlottetown.

Alena Sharp (71), of Hamilton, Ont., Jennifer Kirby (76), of Paris, Ont., and Maude-Aimee Leblanc (70) of Sherbrooke, Que., failed to make the cut and qualify for weekend action.

LOS ANGELES – Dustin Johnson moved down the coast of California and brought his game with him Thursday in the Northern Trust Open.

Johnson made six birdies on a warm, sunny day at Riviera for a 5-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead among the early starters. Francesco Molinari of Italy and Torrey Pines winner Scott Stallings were among those at 67.

Johnson closed with a 66 in the grey, cold weather of Pebble Beach to finish one shot behind Jimmy Walker last week. In conditions that could not have been any different – certainly not any better – he made birdie on all of the par 5s and only had one bogey on his card at the long par-3 fourth.

The only comparison was the quality of his golf.

“It was cold, windy and wet at Pebble on Sunday. Here, it’s not a lot of wind and perfect conditions. It’s sunny and a really nice temperatures,” Johnson said. “It’s still golf, though. You’ve still got to adjust no matter what you’re doing.”

As glorious a day as it was off Sunset Boulevard, Riviera was firm and fast, particularly on the greens.

The warmth meant a little more distance, such as the 349-yard tee shot Johnson hammered down the middle of 13th fairway, a slight dogleg left framed by eucalyptus trees. That left him only 97 yards, and he stuffed it. And on the par-5 17th – 608 yards up the hill, no help from wind – he reached it in two and had a two-putt from just over 20 feet. His only glitch was coming up just short of the green and in the bunker on the 225-yard fourth.

Johnson isn’t playing a lot this season, but when he does, he plays well.

He already has a win at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai. He shared the 54-hole lead at Kapalua and tied for sixth, and then took off four weeks before returning at Pebble Beach. That was a good sign for Johnson, who said he doesn’t have a good history of playing well in the first event after a long break.

“This time, I stayed with it. I worked hard at home,” Johnson said. “It was tough at Pebble because of the weather, and it was hard to keep your concentration.”

He still regrets missing a short birdie putt on the 14th, but overall, he had no complaints.

Molinari started well with an ideal tee shot on the short but troublesome 10th hole – far left of the fairway, just short of a bunker, leaving an open angle to the green. He made par, which is satisfactory, and then picked up three birdies over his next six holes.

“The rough is not too punitive, but it’s a good advantage being on the green, and I hit a lot of good iron shots,” Molinari said.

Robert Garrigus, Charley Hoffman and Matt Jones also were at 67. Jim Furyk and Cameron Tringale were at 68 among the early starters.

Jordan Spieth was among those who played in the afternoon, in similar conditions except that Riviera was slightly faster and the air even warmer. He holed out from 125 yards on the seventh hole for eagle and made the turn at 3 under.

Spieth was playing with Fred Couples – the 20-year-old Texan was born a year after Couples won the Masters – and the old guy was holding his own. In his 32nd start at this tournament, he was 1 under at the turn.

The 10th hole was perilous as ever at 314 yards, especially for Scott Verplank. His wedge barely got the bunker in front of the green. His bunker shot went just over the back of the slick, narrow green into the back bunker. The next shot hit the lip and came back into his divot. His fifth shot reached the fringe and rolled back into the sand again. The next one went through the green and into the front bunker again. And then he got up-and-down for an 8.

“That was fun,” Verplank said.

The rest of the day wasn’t. The 49-year-old Verplank, who has been battling injuries the last few years, withdrew with a bad back.

Weyburn, Sask’s Graham DeLaet and Brantford, Ont.’s David Hearn were tied for 35th when play was called due to darkness Thursday. The pair competed their rounds 1 under par.

Mike Weir was a shot back after an even par 71 – he’s tied for 59th.

EAST LONDON, South Africa – Ricardo Santos of Portugal fired a 9-under 62 for a two-shot lead in the first round of the Africa Open on Thursday.

Santos had five birdies going out and four birdies coming in for a flawless opening round at East London Golf Club.

In a four-way tie for second were Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard, Wales’ Rhys Davies, South Africa’s Garth Mulroy and England’s Richard Bland, who all shot 64s.

Americans Brinson Paolini and John Hahn were among a group of six players tied for sixth, three off Santos’ lead.

Santos was the 2012 rookie of the year on the European Tour and has a decent record in South Africa with top-30 finishes in his last five events.

“I’m very pleased to make a run like I did today,” he said. “I hit the ball solidly from the tee and my putting was all good. To shoot minus nine you have to play awesome golf.”

One of the last finishers, Santos overtook the field with three birdies in his last five holes after starting on No. 10. They ensured he was two clear of the chasing pack, which includes one of the home favourites, Mulroy. Mulroy had an eagle on No. 3, six birdies and a bogey.

Early leader Santos is one of a string of foreigners fighting home player dominance in South Africa. The four previous Africa Opens have been won by South Africans and George Coetzee’s victory at the Joburg Open last week was the ninth home win in the last 12 tour events in the country.

ACTON, Ontario – The Grey Goose World Par 3 Championship will have a decidedly Canadian feel this year.

In a move to significantly strengthen the championship, which takes place March 28-30 at Turtle Hill Golf Club at the Fairmont Southampton Resort in Bermuda, the PGA of Canada championship operations team has been enlisted to partner with the current tournament team, Bermuda Tees.

“We want to make the Grey Goose World Par 3 Championship a truly world class event and felt we needed to bring in one of the best operations team in the world–the PGA of Canada–to execute the various aspects of the event from start to finish,” says Turtle Hill Golf Club’s Director of Golf Anthony Mocklow. “The PGA of Canada championship operations team has a proven track record of putting on best in class golf championships, so it makes a lot of sense to have them partner with us and take the Grey Goose World Par 3 Championship to the next level.

With a total purse of $75,000, the world’s premier par 3 championship is expected to attract more than 160 participants from 15 different countries including a number of players from the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC.

The PGA of Canada also has 10 exemptions directly into the World Par 3 Championship starting in 2014. While the top 10 players from the PGA of Canada Player Rankings are already exempt-with No.1-ranked Billy Walsh, No. 3 Dave Levesque, No. 5 Danny King, No. 6 Eric Laporte and No. 7 Brian McCann having already confirmed to play-the championship is now open to all PGA of Canada members.

Other PGA of Canada members expected to tee it up include Jean Laforce and Keir Smith.

“The opportunity to partner with Grey Goose World Par 3 Championship was something the PGA of Canada could not refuse,” says PGA of Canada CEO Gary Bernard. “Securing these exemptions and playing opportunities for our members is exciting and we are honoured the Grey Goose World Par 3 Championship team has put their trust in our team to partner with Bermuda Tees in the running of the 2014 event.”

PGA Tour winner Ian Leggatt, former European Ryder Cup member Ronan Rafferty, 2010 Grey Goose World Par 3 champion Daniel Augustus, 2013 winner Jordan Mitchell, Golf Channel analyst Charlie Rymer, Challenge Tour winner Oscar Floren and five-time European Tour winner Barry Lane are also in the championship field.

The 2014 Grey Goose World Par 3 Championship benefits the Bermuda Sea Turtle Project, the official charity partner of the Turtle Hill Golf Club. The Turtle Hill Golf Club has been recognized by Golf Magazine as one of the “Top 5 Par 3 Courses in the World” and is a recipient of Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play Golf Award.”

For more information about registering for the 2014 Grey Goose World Par 3 Championship, click here.

LOS ANGELES – Justin Rose is ready to get back to golf.

His baseball career is over.

It wasn’t actually a baseball that caused the U.S. Open champion to wait until the middle of February at the Northern Trust Open to play his first golf tournament of the year. Rose has been home with an ailing shoulder that was a problem deep into last year.

He traced it to a bad decision at The Barclays last August in New Jersey.

He was on the green at Liberty National and his caddie was some 60 yards away – Rose recalls him raking a bunker – when Rose heaved a golf ball in his direction.

“I think that was the moment where it started to flare up from that point on the rest of the year,” he said at Riviera. “Just threw it too far, really.”

Rose recovered quickly that week and had the best chance to win. He had a 25-foot birdie putt for the outright lead on the 18th hole and wound up three-putting for bogey to finish one shot behind Adam Scott.

But it continued to nag at him the rest of the European Tour season, and he was hopeful some time off around the holidays would help. He returns much later than he imagined, but figured it was time to get to work ahead of the Florida swing and leading into the Masters.

“It was a race against time to really get back playing and get back strong,” he said. “And if I’m honest, I’ve only really been hitting balls, drivers, for about a week, 10 days now. So it really has been down to the wire. But I figured that I wanted to get out and play, and if I wanted to play well in the near future, I thought it was important for me to get out and play some competitive golf.

“My game has felt really good at home,” he said. “I’m swinging it really nicely and everything technically looks really good. Had an opportunity to spend a lot of time on my short game, but when you get a scorecard in your hand everything is a little different. So I wanted so make sure I got my season underway.”

The field at Riviera isn’t as strong as it has been in recent years, most of that due to Phil Mickelson taking off this week because his oldest daughter is on winter break. Adam Scott chose not to play – he won’t return until the Honda Classic.

Others who played the last two years but are absent from Riviera include Sergio Garcia, Zach Johnson and Luke Donald, who is missing this for the first time in his career.

Matt Kuchar returns after a four-week break in Hawaii.

Jimmy Walker, coming off his third win of the season at Pebble Beach, goes after win No. 4 at what he calls his favorite course on tour. He’s not the only one who feels that way. Fred Couples was given a sponsor exemption and is playing for the 32nd time.

Couples, a two-time winner at Riviera, first played in 1982. He tied for 13th with Gene Littler. Tom Watson won that year in a playoff over Johnny Miller. If that’s not enough to make Couples feel older than his 54 years, he is playing Thursday with Jordan Spieth, who was born a year after Couples won the Masters.

For Rose, the road to the Masters starts now.

He plans to compete next week in the Match Play Championship provided the shoulder holds up. And he might cut back some of his Florida schedule depending on how deep he goes in Match Play.

“If you want to play well in Florida, it might start now,” Rose said. “If you want to play well at Augusta, it might start now. If you want to play well this week, it definitely starts now. You definitely can’t do it sitting at home. Like I said, I worked really hard, every day, diligently. Did my rehab, didn’t miss a session. Just did everything I could to get ready to play this week. That was my goal and my intent, and it’s nice to be here.”

Rose and everyone else in the field could be in for a treat.

The forecast is for sunny, warm and dry conditions all week, which means Riviera could be faster than usual.

MELBOURNE, Australia – Norway’s Suzann Pettersen birdied her last three holes in a 6-under 66 on Thursday to lead the women’s Australian Open by a shot after the first round at the Victoria Golf Club.

Pettersen, winner of last year’s Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France.

The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tour’s opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. She’s in position to take the No. 1 spot in the world from Inbee Park with a victory or a solo second-place finish.

“In the first round of the year you’re always anxious to get started,” Pettersen said. “It took me a while to get really comfortable, to trust what I’ve been working on.

“In the end the trust was stronger than the rest. I hit a lot of great shots but I also have to say I left a lot of shots out there. I three-putted a lot of greens, stupid three-putts really, but I also felt like I played good and gave myself a lot of birdie chances.”

Ricordeau, who had eight birdies, a bogey and a double bogey, briefly drew level with Pettersen before finishing among a group of four players with rounds of 67.

Tied in second place were Park Hee-young of South Korea and Americans Jaclyn Sweeney and Jessica Korda, daughter of former tennis star Petr Korda and already a tournament winner this year.

World No. 4 Lydia Ko of New Zealand was among a larger group at 4-under after a mixed opening round. The 16-year-old was one-under after her opening nine but came home with five birdies and two bogeys, including birdies at her last two holes.

Australia’s Karrie Webb, a record four-time winner of the event, opened with a 71. The Hall of Famer had another brush with rules officials after being disqualified last week at Royal Pines for signing an incorrect scorecard after the second round.

Webb started her round on the 10th tee Thursday and was told she had teed up fractionally in front of the tee marker. She was allowed to replace her ball without incurring a two-shot penalty.

Lorie Kane of Charlottetown shot 71 and is tied for 42nd at 1-under. Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont. (72), Sue Kim of Langley, B.C. (72), Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Toronto (73), Alena Sharp of Hamilton (74) and Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que. (79) are the other Canadians in the field.

ACTON, Ont. – This year’s Titleist & FootJoy PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada is headed southwest to the Grand Canyon State.

The 54-hole national championship takes place Nov. 16-19 at the SunRidge Canyon Golf Club in Fountain Hills, Ariz.

“We couldn’t be more excited to take the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada to the southwest and SunRidge Canyon Golf Club in Fountain Hills, Ariz.,” PGA of Canada president Gregg Schubert said. “Since 2004 we’ve played this championship in Florida and it has been a very successful spot, but we feel moving west will attract more of our western PGA of Canada professionals.”

The move to Arizona comes after a 10-year run at PGA Golf Club in Port St Lucie, Fla.

At nearly 7,000-yards, SunRidge Canyon is hidden among the ridges and canyons in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains, widely considered one of the most picturesque and dramatic stretches of natural land in the southwest United States. The beauty and challenge of SunRidge Canyon has made it one of the most highly rated clubs in Arizona. The course was selected No. 42 on Golf Magazine’s list of ‘The Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the United States,’ and was the host of the 1997 USGA State Team Championship.

In 2013, Adam Chamberlain of Gowan Brae Golf Club in Bathurst, N.B., captured the Club Professional Championship of Canada. The 31-year-old head professional’s three-day total of 9-under-par 207 (69-68-70) was two better than two-time champion and perennial PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada favourite Danny King of The Performance Academy at Magna.

In addition to competing for the overall championship trophy, players in the PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada earn much-coveted ranking points with hopes of moving up on the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC. Players who are ranked inside the top 64 following the Titleist & Footjoy PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada earn invites into the following year’s PGA Championship of Canada sponsored by Mr. Lube and presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf.

Former champions of the PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada include Ken Fulton, Norm Jarvis, Gar Hamilton, Bob Panasik, Yvan Beauchemin, Graham Gunn, Ken Tarling and Brian Hutton.

theScore backs Mackenzie Hughes

theScore has once again teamed-up with rising Canadian golf star Mackenzie Hughes, as the 23-year-old prepares to take the next big step in his professional career.

Hughes, from Dundas, Ont., makes his debut on the Web.com Tour tomorrow at the Pacific Rubiales Colombia Championship Presented by Claro in Bogota, Colombia. Hughes secured fully exempt status on the Web.com Tour after finishing first on 2013 PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit, which included a victory at the Cape Breton Celtic Classic Presented by PC Financial and four top-10 finishes.

theScore sponsored Hughes throughout the 2013 PGA TOUR Canada season and will continue its support in 2014 as he graduates to the Web.com Tour. Hughes looks to finish inside the top-25 on season ending money list and earn full status on the PGA TOUR next season, alongside the biggest names in the world golf.

As part of the partnership, theScore will be giving golf fans an exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpse of life as a professional golfer through Hughes’ regular “Confessions of a Tour Pro” column, which can be seen in the PGA sections of theScore app and theScore.com.

“Mac is a great guy and a talented professional who has shown the potential to compete at the very highest level,” said John Levy, Chairman and CEO of theScore, Inc. “We’re so excited for him this year and pleased to be playing a part in helping him achieve his goal of competing with the very best on the world stage.”

“It’s great to have theScore backing me again this season,” said Hughes, a former member of Golf Canada’s National Team and Kent State University alumnus. “They’re a well-known Canadian brand and sports fans all over the world love their mobile apps.”

Anna Nordqvist joins TaylorMade-adidas Golf

TaylorMade-adidas Golf has announced the addition of LPGA Tour player Anna Nordqvist as an LPGA Tour staff professional and brand ambassador.

Nordqvist, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour and winner of the 2009 LPGA Championship, will play TaylorMade metalwoods and irons and will wear adidas Golf apparel and footwear per her new contract.

The 26-year-old Swede turned professional in 2008 following a successful amateur career in both Europe and the United States which included Swedish Junior Player of the Year honors in 2004 and 2005, Pacific Athletic Conference (Pac-10) Player of the Year and co-champion honors in 2007, as well as membership on the victorious Swedish team at the 2008 World Amateur Team Championships.

In 2013, Nordqvist made the cut in all 26 LPGA events she entered, earning five top-10 finishes along the way. She competed in the Solheim Cup for the third time in her career (’09, ’11), where she finished with a 2-1-1 record for the victorious European Team and carded the first hole-in-one in Solheim Cup history.

“We are thrilled to welcome Anna into the TaylorMade-adidas Golf family as a member of our tour staff,” said Chuck Presto, Senior Vice President, Global Sports Marketing. “She’s an established and well-respected professional on the LPGA Tour that we’re proud to have representing our two brands in competition.”

For more information on TaylorMade-adidas Golf equipment, apparel or tour staff players, please visit TaylorMadeGolf.ca.

CARLSBAD, Calif. – TaylorMade Golf Company has introduced the PROJECT (a), a golf ball engineered to promote more spin and improved performance where amateurs need it most, into and around the green.

The “a” in Project (a) stands for “amateur,” and the reason for its creation is simple: Amateur golfers generate less spin than Tour professionals. Project (a) is designed to deliver more spin on mid irons, short irons and shots around the green; resulting in enhanced control and increased scoring opportunities.

“Having gathered data from many player types including Tour pros, it’s no secret that amateurs need help generating spin and stopping the ball on the green,” said Dean Snell, vice president of golf ball R&D at TaylorMade. “Our tests indicate amateurs miss the pin by an average of 35 yards on a 150 yard approach shot. Playing Project (a) gives amateur golfers a better chance at stopping the ball on the green, creating better scoring opportunities.”

The high-spin performance of Project (a) is rooted in Soft Tech, a cast urethane cover that’s TaylorMade’s softest and most durable to date. At $34.99 per dozen, Project (a) is one of few golf balls at its price point with a urethane cover.  Soft Tech is likewise used in TaylorMade’s new Tour Preferred franchise.

In addition to delivering excellent spin performance, the Soft Tech cover also provides an even softer feel around the greens than previous TaylorMade offerings. The ball’s durability provides higher resistance to shearing.

While Project (a) spins with great veracity on shots into the green, it’s also engineered to spin low off the driver to promote longer and straighter drives.

For more information, visit www.taylormadegolf.ca