Thursday March 11, 2010

DORAL, Fla. (AP) -- Five birdies were enough to put Charl Schwartzel among the leaders at the CA Championship. He wound up alone at the top because he was the one player who managed to avoid a bogey.

Schwartzel, who got into the elite field with his two victories
in his native South Africa at the start of the season, played
bogey-free in a vicious wind at the Blue Monster and pieced
together a 5-under 67 for a one-shot lead Thursday.

He might not have been in the lead by himself if not for so many
mistakes on 18th at Doral, one of golf's most daunting closing
holes.

Ernie Els hit into the water with his approach on No. 18 and
made bogey for a 4-under 68. Vijay Singh found the water of the tee
and made double bogey, taking him from the lead to a 68.

Robert Allenby had a five-shot lead at one point -- 8 under
through 12 holes -- until closing with four straight bogeys for a
68.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)