Australia’s Mark Hensby has racked up nine birdies in a six-under 66 to be tied second behind Rocco Mediate after the first round of the Champions Tour’s Chubb Classic in Florida.
The 52-year-old Hensby’s hot form at Tiburon Golf Club on Friday included birdies on the last four holes and left him tied with South African great Ernie Els and Germany’s Alex Cejka.
However they were three shots adrift of 61-year-old Mediate, who had eight birdies and an eagle in his opening 63.
Mediate holed out for eagle at the par-4 third to kickstart his day. After adding four birdies to go out in six-under 29, his only misstep was a bogey at the par-4 13th, which he erased by birdieing the next four holes.
“There was no suck in that round. Zero suck,” said Mediate, who has won four times on the Champions Tour but not since September 2019.
“I want to win in my 60s,” Mediate said. “It’s as simple as that. That’s what I want to do.”
Richard Green was the next-best Australian, tied 10th after a 68, with David Bransdon a shot further back, while Rod Pampling was two under after a 70, John Senden posted a 73 and Stuart Appleby and Steve Allan both had 74s.
Els, the former world No.1 with four major titles and three PGA Tour Champions wins to his name, was perfect till a bogey 5 at the 17th hole, which he made up for by birdieing the par-5 18th.
Other notable names down the leaderboard include Steve Stricker (3-under 69), Ireland’s Padraig Harrington (69), John Daly (2-under 70), Jerry Kelly (70) and South Korea’s K.J. Choi (70).
Source Agencies
