Valspar Championship

In-form Lee shares Palm Harbor lead

ESPN staff

March 14, 2014

Danny Lee is joined at the top of the leaderboard by Matt Every, Pat Perez and Greg Chalmers © Getty Images

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Danny Lee carded a first-round 68 to secure a share of the lead on three under at the Valspar Championship in Florida.

Having finished second at the Puerto Rico Open, Lee continued his good form at the Innisbrook Resort with two birdies in his first three holes after starting on the back nine.

Another on the 15th saw him to the turn in 32, before he birdied the first and bogeyed the sixth in a level par second half.

Lee is joined at the top of the leaderboard by Americans Matt Every and Pat Perez and Australia's Greg Chalmers. All three made five birdies and two bogeys in their rounds.

"I gained a lot of confidence after last week playing with the finish in Puerto Rico," Lee said.

"It really helped me a lot with that confidence stuff, and I'm hitting it really well right now. My ball striking is the best it's ever been, especially with the putting."

Ryder Cup star Nicolas Colsaerts and Italy's Matteo Manassero sit a shot back along with Americans Bill Haas, Robert Garrigus, Tommy Gainey, Michael Putnam and James Hahn.

Scotland's Russell Knox is tied for 12th place at one under, while English duo Luke Donald and Justin Rose hit level-par 71s along with Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke.

Valspar Championship leaderboard: