Rodriguez and Surber lead Times Colonist Open

Golf Betting Lines

06/15/2007 - Victoria, BC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Anthony Rodriguez and Russell Surber each posted rounds of four-under-par 68 on Thursday to share the first-round lead of the Times Colonist Open.

Jon Abbott, Steve Friesen, Scott Hend, Jim Lemon, Kevin Pom Arleau and Stephen Reed share third place at three-under-par 69 at Gorge Vale Golf Club.

Rodriguez, who has yet to miss a cut in his 13 starts on the Canadian Tour, began on the back nine Thursday and tallied his only birdie of the front nine at the par-five 15th.

He bogeyed the third, but then hit a spectacular tee ball at the fourth. The par-four hole, measured at 307 yards leads most to drive the hole, but Rodriguez nearly holed out for an albatross. He settled for a tap-in eagle to reach two-under par for the championship.

"I tried to get them (playing partners Steve Friesen and Brendan Steele) to give me a gimmie, but no luck," joked Rodriguez.

He closed with birdies at six and eight to first post 68.

"I just stuck to my game plan and didn't change a thing," said Rodriguez. "When your confidence is going strong, you don't grip the club quite as tight. I just played smart golf."

Surber teed off the first and birdied his first two holes. He dropped a shot at the par-four seventh to make the turn at minus-one.

On the second nine, Surber, a product of the University of Texas, collected birdies at 11 and 12. He joined Rodriguez in first place with a birdie at the 17th.

Defending champion Mike Grob headlines the group tied for 10th place at two- under-par 70. Among the other players in that group are Derek Gillespie and Joseph Lanza, both of whom are in the top 10 on the Canadian Tour's Order of Merit.

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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.