O'Hair, Villegas share lead in Round 1 of Kiwi Challenge

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HAWKE'S BAY, New Zealand -- Sean O'Hair and Camilo Villegas each shot 2 under through 15 holes Wednesday to share the first-round lead in the Kiwi Challenge at Cape Kidnappers. Play was halted on the 16th hole for the four players in the field due to high winds that reached gusts of more than 50 miles per hour. Last year's runner-up, Anthony Kim, stands at 1 over and defending champion Hunter Mahan is 3 over.

"It got crazy out there," said Villegas. "It was so beautiful; so calm at the beginning. Then, when we got to the 10th, it started blowing. Sean even lost his cap into the ocean standing on the 16th tee. I didn't really want to hit my drive at that point. I like the wind, but when it gets unfair it's no good."

The first round for this 36-hole event will resume at 8 a.m. Thursday, and the second round will follow at 9 a.m. as scheduled. Wednesday tickets will be honored.

Villegas birdied the 14th from close range to take the lead alone at 2 under, but O'Hair caught him with a birdie on the long downwind par-5. After a 380-yard drive, O'Hair hit 5-iron to the 650-yard hole, and then made an 8-footer for birdie.

"My stroke is really good," said O'Hair. "I saw my lines nicely today and my speed control was good."

O'Hair and Villegas each made four birdies and two bogeys over the par 71, 7,187-yard layout, but O'Hair cashed in with the longer putts, making three of his four birdies from 20 feet or more. The two were also tied for the lead at 2-under 33 after nine holes.

Mahan started strong with birdies from close range on the first two holes, but fell back with four bogeys in a seven-hole stretch mid-way through the round. Kim fell off the pace on the par-5 fourth after hitting his second shot into trouble and taking double bogey.