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Verplank bogeys last hole, tied with Rose at Bob Hope

Scott Verplank looks for his ball in the water off the 18th green during the second round of the Bob Hope Classic at the Classic Club golf course in Thousand Palms, California, on Thursday. PHOTO: AP

Scott Verplank spoiled a bogey-free round with a shot that found water on the final hole on Thursday, but his 6-under 66 still was good enough for a share of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic lead.

Justin Rose holed a pair of bunker shots on the way to a 65 that also put him at 12 under and tied at the top through two rounds of the five-day tournament.

Verplank, who finished in a second-place tie in the Hope last year, this time began the second day tied for fourth, three strokes behind leader Robert Allenby.

Starting on the back nine at the Classic Club, one of four courses used for the first four rounds, Verplank teed up on his last hole of the day one shot ahead of Rose, who already had finished.

Verplank's second shot on the 595-yard, par-5 ninth hit the bank near the green and rolled into the water. After a drop, he had a 30-foot putt for par, but left it 5 feet short.

Rose, who tied for 10th in last year's tournament, knocked in his bunker shot for an eagle on the par-5, 516-yard fifth at La Quinta Country Club. He duplicated that feat with another out of the sand for a birdie on the par-3, 202-yard 12th.

Allenby followed his opening 63 with a 70 and was tied for third with Johnson Wagner at 11 under. Wagner had a 67.

Phil Mickelson, in his first event of the year, shot his second consecutive 70, leaving him eight shots behind the leaders. He won the tournament in 2002 and 2004.
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