Canada Tied For 3rd At World Cup In China

Two shots ahead and leading the field of 28 nations at 10-under par is the German team of Martin Kaymer and Alex Cejka one stroke in front of Australia's Richard Green and Brendan Jones.

Spain and the United States are even with Canada at 8-under while Sweden, Ireland, Denmark and New Zealand are just three shots off the lead at 7-under.

The defending champions from Scotland -- a team comprised of Colin Montgomerie and Alastair Forsyth -- sit six strokes back at 4-under par and tied for 16th..

Venezuela is in last place at 1-under par 71.

"I struggled probably the first 12 holes and Graham kept us in there and made four birdies himself," said Heffernan, a Calgary native who plays primarily on the Canadian Tour. "It was nice making a bunch of birdies, and I birdied four of the last five. So it was kind of his start and my finish. It was good teamwork."

Hefferenan said the windy conditions made the course challenging for him and DeLaet, a native of Weyburn, Sask., who is also a fixture on the Canadian Tour.

"The winds get swirling around here, and I'm sure guys were talking, it's tough to pick the right club a lot of times and in the best ball," he said. "It's not quite as big of a problem in alternate shot if it is as windy as it was today."

In a dispatch from China the Canadian Press describes the World Cup as a prestigious event that once attracted the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Tiger Woods and Canada's Mike Weir but has diminished in importance in recent years.

Though prize money has been increased by $500,000 US to $5.5 million, the tournament has only attracted three of the world's Top 20 players, Sweden's No. 6 Robert Karlsson and No. 12 Henrik Stenson and Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain, ranked #20.

Canada has not won this event since 1985, but the team of DeLaet from Weyburn and Wes Heffernan from Calgary are off to a good start at 8-uner. DeLaet is making his first appearance in the World Cup. Heffernan teamed with Mike Weir a year ago, with the team tying for 17th. Dan Halldorson and Dave Barr were the last Canadians to win the World Cup, and Halldorson was in attendance Thursday at Mission Hills. He's in China in his role as deputy executive director of the Canadian Tour.

Scores may be higher following Friday's second round when the format is changed to the more difficult foursomes--alternate-shot--play.

World Cup Of Golf - 1st Round
Mission Hills - Par 72

1 Germany -10 62
2 Australia -9 63
T3 Spain -8 64
T3 Canada -8 64
T3 USA -8 64
T6 Sweden -7 65
T6 Denmark -7 65
T6 Ireland -7 65
T6 New Zealand -7 65
T10 Mexico -6 66
T10 Japan -6 66
T12 Philippines -5 67
T12 Portugal -5 67
T12 Chile -5 67
T12 India -5 67
T16 Scotland -4 68
T16 Chinese Taipei -4 68
T16 Korea -4 68
T16 France -4 68
T20 China -3 69
T20 Finland -3 69
T20 Guatemala -3 69
T20 Wales -3 69
T20 England -3 69
T20 Thailand -3 69
T26 South Africa -2 70
T26 Italy -2 70
T28 Venezuela -1 71