Singh makes move at Canadian Open, one stroke back

MARKHAM, Ontario, July 28 (Reuters) Fiji's Vijay Singh charged up the leaderboard at the Canadian Open yesterday with the lowest round of the day, leaving him a shot off co-leaders Steve Allan of Australia and American John Mallinger.

Jim Furyk, the top-ranked player in the field at the million tournament, also got back in contention to keep alive his hopes of becoming the first player to win successive Canadian Open titles in 56 years.

Singh, the world number seven and Canadian Open champion in 2004, equalled the low round of the day after seven birdies and one bogey en route to a six-under-par 65.

''I'm looking forward to playing a solid weekend,'' Singh told reporters. ''Win or lose, you know, I am going to go out there and try to play my game and try to win the golf tournament.'' Allan secured a spot atop the leaderboard at 10 under after a three-under second round put him on track to become the first Australian to win the Canadian Open since Greg Norman in 1992.

Mallinger, who started the day on the back nine, earned a share of the lead after a bogey-free round that included two late birdies on the seventh and eighth holes.

Hunter Mahan, who equalled the lowest 18-hole score in the tournament's history with a three-eagle 62 in the opening round, struggled at three-over yesterday to stand four shots behind the leaders.

Title-holder Furyk, hunting his first victory of the year, took advantage of calm morning conditions to move within three shots of the lead after finishing the first day seven shots back.

Furyk said he was delighted to start the second round in ideal early conditions after opening with a two-under par 69 on a windy Thursday afternoon.

''This morning, we had it pretty perfect, even though it got a little breezy for our second nine,'' the 37-year-old told reporters. ''(They were) much better conditions to score in than we had yesterday.'' The cut was set at one-under 141, with 2002 champion John Rollins a notable casualty.

Reuters BJR VP0446