K.J. Choi takes one-shot lead in Hawaii

HONOLULU, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- K.J. Choi holed a five-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th Thursday to take a one-shot lead after one round of the Sony Open at Honolulu.

Choi shot a 6-under 64 over the Waialae Country Club course in the first full-field event on the PGA Tour this year. Of the 22 players who took part in last week's season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship, Choi is the first to have entered this week's tournament.

He wound up 28th in a field of 31 last week on the island of Maui.

Choi's birdie allowed him to finish one shot in front of Jimmy Walker, Heath Slocum and Steve Marino. Walker, a graduate of the Nationwide Tour who has played in 36 PGA Tour events without a top 10 finish, eagled his final hole to shoot 65.

Among those at 66 were Rory Sabbatini, Chad Campbell and last week's winner Daniel Chopra, who birdied three of his final four holes.

Steve Stricker, who finished second to Chopra last week -- and in so doing moved into third place in the world rankings behind Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson -- shot a 71 Thursday.