Delsing Comes Out of Water Into Lead in Phoenix Open

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Jay Delsing saved par after hitting into water at No. 17 and took the lead at the halfway point of the Phoenix Open on Friday.

“Every round seems to have a turning point; No. 17 was mine,” Delsing said after completing a bogey-free round of six-under-par 65.

The rangy, 6-foot-5 Delsing hit his tee shot into a lake on the par-four 17th hole--his eighth hole of the day--at the Tournament Players’ Club at Scottsdale.

After a drop, however, he got up and down with a 20-foot putt to save par, then moved in front with birdies on three of the next five holes.

It enabled Delsing to complete 36 holes in 131, 11 under par, and get him halfway to his career goal.

“I’ve been out here eight years and never won, and that’s what I really want to do,” said Delsing, who has cracked the top 100 money-winners once and twice has had to return to the tour’s qualifying school because of a lack of performance.

He has a two-stroke lead in the chase for a $198,000 first prize. Brad Fabel, John Huston and Billy Glasson shared second at 133. Huston moved up with a 64, Glasson shot 65 and Fabel 69.

Mark Calcavecchia scored a hole in one during a round of 65 that left him three strokes back.

“I wanted to get a good round and get back in the tournament, and that’s what I did,” Calcavecchia said.

His 169-yard, eight-iron shot hit the pin and dropped into the cup for an ace on the fourth hole.

He followed immediately with three birdies, giving him a four-hole string of scores that read 1-3-3-2.

“You play four holes in nine shots and you usually improve your score,” he said.

Calcavecchia was tied at 134 with Nick Price (68), Lee Janzen (68) and Dan Forsman (70).