Wiebe, Simpson tied for lead at Boeing Classic

Aug 23, 2008 - 10:46 AM SNOQUALMIE, Washington (Ticker) - Mark Wiebe and Scott Simpson are tied for the lead entering Saturday's second round at the Boeing Classic.

Buoyed by four birdies in his first five holes, Wiebe shot a 5-under-par 67 on Friday to tie Simpson atop the leaderboard of this $1.6 million event.

Wiebe held a two-shot cushion with three holes to play at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge, but his only bogey of the day at the par-5 18th allowed Simpson to join him.

Simpson, who has six top-10 finishes this season and is coming off a sixth-place finish at the JELD-WEN Tradition, carded five birdies in his bogey-free round.

Wiebe and Simpson are a shot ahead of Gary Hallberg, David Edwards and Bob Gilder, who are tied at 4-under 68.

Marquee names Tom Kite and Hale Irwin head a cluster of six players at 3-under 69. Kite had five birdies in his first eight holes but offset it with four bogeys.

Defending champion Denis Watson, a two-time winner this season and the reigning Rookie of the Year, struggled out of the gate with two bogeys in the first four holes and never got untracked en route to a 2-over 74.

Last year, Watson had to work overtime for the win as a seven-way playoff was needed to determine the champion. Watson finished 54 holes at 9-under 207 and eventually defeated Craig Stadler and R.W. Eaks on the second extra hole after four players were eliminated after the first hole.

First prize is $240,000.