PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Bob Ford, PGA head professional at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club and Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Fla., fired a record-breaking 8-under-par 64 on the Wanamaker Course under pristine conditions Thursday to take a one-stroke lead in the opening round of the $285,000 Callaway Golf Senior PGA Professional National Championship. The championship is making its seventh consecutive visit to The PGA Golf Club's Ryder and Wanamaker Courses.
Ford's opening round was the lowest of any round in the 31-year Championship history, and was two strokes better than the first-round record shared by five players.
Don Reese of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., gave indication it was going to a low-scoring blitz when he preceded Ford to the clubhouse with a 65 and remained a shot off the pace.
"I was inspired by playing with Bob Boyd," said Ford, who is competing in his fourth Senior PGA Professional National Championship, with a career-best finish of runner-up in 2004. "I had not seen Bob in quite a while and have been going through his ordeal with him by e-mail and was inspired by playing with him today."
Boyd, of Wilmington, N.C., was the 1988 PGA Professional National Champion and is making his return to national championship competition after surviving a second bout with leukemia. He posted a 74 on the Ryder Course.
Since last May, the 52-year-old Boyd has spent 38 days in the hospital to combat the disease. He has increased his weight by 20 pounds to 195, and said his daily regimen is composed of a strict diet and exercise to regain the strength he lost over the past several two months.
Ford enjoyed a bogey-free round, and had five front-nine birdies. He collected three more birdies on the back nine.
"There was no wind this morning out there this morning so the course played pretty easy," said Ford. "I drove it in all the fairways, hit most of the greens and made a whole lot of putts."
Don Reese, a PGA Life Member, played his first round on the Ryder Course and was impressive with his putter by recording nine birdies, including six on the back nine.
"I had not been playing much but I worked on my swing recently and it seemed to work," said Reese, who has retired but still teaches out of Santa Rosa Beach Golf and Country Club.
"The key to my round was the putter but I did start to hit a whole lot of good iron shots during my round as well."
Mike Barge of Chanhassen, Minn., and Steve Heckel of Carterville, Ill., shot identical opening round 67s and sit in third place overall.
"I was happy with how the day went. It was the start I wanted to have," said Barge, who is playing in his third Senior PGA Professional National Championship. "I only made one bogey today, but it didn't help that it was the last hole of the day."
Other past PGA Professional Champions also fared well during the first round of play at the PGA Golf Club. Bruce Zabriski of Jupiter, Fla., the 1997 Champion shot a 74; Mike Burke Jr. of Towaco, N.J., (1998) carded a 72, and Wayne DeFrancesco of Baltimore, Md. (2001) fired a 68.
Callaway Golf is in their sixth year as the title sponsor of the Senior PGA Professional National Championship. The 264-player field will be cut to the low 70 scorers and ties following the second round.
The low 35 finishers will qualify for the 2008 Senior PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club [East Course] in Rochester, N.Y. The top eight finishers, including ties, will receive exemptions into the 2008 Callaway Golf Senior PGA Professional Championship. In addition, the top 10 finishers will be exempt into the Champions Tour National Finals at TPC Eagle Trace, provided they have filled out an entry by the deadline.
The PGA of America is the world's largest working sports organization, comprised of 28,000 men and women golf Professionals who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf while serving millions of people throughout its 41 PGA Sections nationwide. Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has enhanced its leadership position in a $62 billion-a-year industry by growing the game of golf through its premier spectator events, world-class education and training programs, significant philanthropic outreach initiatives, and award-winning golf promotions. Today's PGA Professional is the public's link to the game, serving an essential role in the operation of golf facilities throughout the country.
Callaway Golf Senior PGA Professional National Championship
PGA Golf Club, Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Ryder Course (Par 72, 6,729)
Wanamaker Course (Par 72, 6,736)
First-Round Scores
Bob Ford, Oakmont, Pa. 31-33--64
Donald Reese, Defuniak Springs, Fla. 35-30--65
Mike Barge, Chanhassen, Minn. 32-35--67
Steve Heckel, Carterville, Ill. 33-34--67
Marty Fleckman, Cypress, Texas 33-34--67
Butch Sheehan, Rancho Mirage, Calif 35-33--68
Will Brewer, Franklin, Tenn. 34-34--68
Perry Arthur, Plano, Texas 33-35--68
Don Brigham, Jersey City, N.J. 32-36--68
John Klug, Bermuda Dunes, Calif 34-34--68
Chris Strakjohann, Encinitas, Calif. 35-33--68
Wayne Defrancesco, Columbia, Md. 35-33--68
Gary Robsion, Canton, Ohio 36-33--69
Thomas Anderson, Laurel, Mont. 33-36--69
Stan Stopa, New Orleans, La. 35-34--69
Steve Cox, Vine Grove, Ky. 33-36--69
Mark Pelletier, El Paso, Texas 32-37--69
Randy Towner, Lawrence, Kan. 34-35--69
Randy Erskine, Lake Orion, Mich. 37-32--69
William Britton, Tinton Falls, N.J. 33-36--69
Bob Ralston, Little Rock, Ark. 35-34--69
John Mazza, Beaver Falls, Pa. 36-33--69
Glen Stubblefield, Valley Springs, Cali 34-35--69
Robert Thompson, Huntsville, Texas 36-33--69
Ron Milanovich, Rimersburg, Pa. 36-34--70
Steve Waugh, Naples, Fla. 37-33--70
Lindy Miller, Fort Worth, Texas 36-34--70
Mike Zinni, N. Mankato, Minn. 37-33--70
Roger Kennedy, Stuart, Fla. 35-35--70
Dennis Foster, Thousand Palms, Cali 35-35--70
Greg Harmon, Mesa, Ariz. 35-35--70
Jeff Thomsen, Boise, Idaho 36-34--70
Allan Menne, Mashpee, Mass. 36-34--70
Denny Ford, Indianapolis, Ind. 34-36--70
Rick Vershure, Armonk, N.Y. 34-36--70
Jim Fellner, Little River, S.C. 35-35--70
Roy Vucinich, Moon Township, Pa. 36-34--70
Bob Darling, Lewiston, Maine 35-35--70
Freddy Gibson, Orlando, Fla. 34-36--70
Rod Nuckolls, Wichita, Kan. 35-35--70
Ralph West, Litchfield Park, Ari 35-35--70
Robert Moreland, Ottumwa, Iowa 35-35--70
Gary Sowinski, Rancho Santa Fe, Cal 35-36--71
Kelley Moser, Norwalk, Conn. 37-34--71
Jack Seltzer, Panama City, Fla. 37-34--71
David Lundstrom, Victoria, Texas 36-35--71
Thomas Costello, Park City, Utah 36-35--71
Thomas Fussaro, Shaker Heights, Ohio 34-37--71
Matthew Seitz, Hutchinson, Kan. 32-39--71
James Blair, Ogden, Utah 36-35--71
Robert Makoski, Novi, Mich. 36-35--71
Scott Mahlberg, San Diego, Calif. 34-37--71
Tom Doozan, Apollo Beach, Fla. 36-35--71
Bill Sakas, Northbrook, Ill. 34-37--71
Eddie Mudd, Louisville, Ky. 34-37--71
Ralph Salito, Danbury, Conn. 37-34--71
Victor Tortorici, Stuart, Fla. 35-36--71
Tommy Brannen, Augusta, Ga. 36-36--72
Gil Foushee, Lakeland, Fla. 39-33--72
William Loeffler, Highlands Ranch, Col 35-37--72
Richard Von Tacky, Titusville, Pa. 36-36--72
Michael Burke, Towaco, N.J. 34-38--72
David Arbuckle, Colorado Springs, Co 38-34--72
Bob Irving, Sarasota, Fla. 36-36--72
Paul Wise, Redondo Beach, Calif 36-36--72
Mike Gove, Snohomish, Wash. 35-37--72
Joseph Bostic, Wilton, Conn. 36-36--72
Mike Beveridge, Vacaville, Calif. 35-37--72
Bill Sautter, Warrington, Pa. 36-36--72
Bill Andrews, Greenland, N.H. 36-36--72
David Glenz, Hamburg, N.J. 37-35--72
Bob Ackerman, W. Bloomfield, Mich. 37-35--72
Jim Woodward, Chandler, Okla. 38-34--72
Christopher Dachisen, Wayne, N.J. 36-36--72
Tony Saraceno, Cortland, N.Y. 37-35--72
Larry Mackin, Mesa, Ariz. 36-36--72
John Hayes, St. Louis, Mo. 36-36--72
Richard Tock, Mequon, Wis. 38-34--72
Denny Hepler, Winona Lake, Ind. 35-37--72
Kenneth Allard, Rochester, Mich. 35-37--72
John Traub, Oakland Township, Mi 35-37--72
Fran Marrello, Plymouth, Conn. 37-35--72
John Godwin, Pine Mountain, Ga. 36-37--73
John Calabria, Naples, Fla. 37-36--73
Don Germer, Omaha, Neb. 39-34--73
Mike Buss, Las Vegas, Nev. 37-36--73
George Plassmann, Olathe, Kan. 37-36--73
Chuck Westergard, San Antonio, Texas 36-37--73
Russell Clark, Aurora, Colo. 34-39--73
Wayne Phillips, Allentown, Pa. 37-36--73
Scott Spence, Portsmouth, R.I. 36-37--73
Jon Corliss, Virginia Beach, Va. 36-37--73
Robert Bailey, Old Greenwich, Conn. 35-38--73
Tom Joyce, Long Island, N.Y. 36-37--73
Glen Miller, Herndon, Va. 36-37--73
Cary Hungate, Kokomo, Ind. 36-37--73
Leigh Brannan, Canton, Miss. 33-40--73
Joe Tesori, Syracuse, N.Y. 38-35--73
Dave Kendall, Saline, Mich. 36-37--73
Bern Coulter, Wilmington, N.C. 37-36--73
John Graham, Idaho Falls, Idaho 38-35--73
Mike Gray, Jupiter, Fla. 39-34--73
Thomas Herzan, Findlay, Ohio 36-37--73
Mike Glendenning, Fairborn, Ohio 36-37--73
Gene George, West Palm Bch, Fla. 37-36--73
George Forster, Villanova, Pa. 37-36--73
Michael Paul, Reno, Nev. 36-37--73
Butch Butler, Patuxent River, Md. 36-37--73
Darrell Kestner, Glen Cove, N.Y. 38-35--73
Billy Ziobro, Palm Beach Gardens, 35-38--73
Mike San Filippo, Hobe Sound, Fla. 36-37--73
William Feil, La Quinta, Calif. 38-35--73
Jerry Impellittiere, Palm City, Fla. 36-37--73
Steve Groves, Columbus, Ohio 37-36--73
Michael Zaremba, Pueblo, Colo. 38-35--73
Tom Jaeger, Neptune, N.J. 36-37--73
Wayne Natti, Franconia, N.H. 35-38--73
Jerry Tucker, Stuart , Fla. 39-34--73
Steve Spray, St. Louis, Mo. 35-38--73
Mick Herron, Monument Beach, Mass 34-39--73
Rusty Gunnarson, Mattapoisett, Mass. 39-35--74
Michael Harrigan, Chicago, Ill. 39-35--74
Cory George, Lancaster, Ohio 37-37--74
Steve Prugh, Spokane, Wash. 38-36--74
Mike Hamilton, Simpsonville, S.C. 35-39--74
Mike Brengard, Edwardsville, Ill. 36-38--74
Mick Soli, San Carlos, Calif. 38-36--74
Kim Thompson, Salt Lake City, Utah 38-36--74
Bruce Zabriski, Jupiter, Fla. 40-34--74
Mike Parrish, Guntersville, Ala. 38-36--74
Joe Gutterman, Palm Coast, Fla. 37-37--74
Kevin Bishop, Tumwater, Wash. 37-37--74
Bob Boyd , Wilmington, N.C. 39-35--74
Christopher Campbell, Vero Beach, Fla. 37-37--74
David Grygiel, Portland, Maine 40-34--74
Wyatt Detmer, Newnan, Ga. 36-38--74
John Deforest, Accord, N.Y. 38-36--74
Jerry Covich, Biloxi, Miss. 35-39--74
Ken Corliss, Columbus, Ohio 38-36--74
James Paschal, Hendersonville, Tenn 34-40--74
Bill Schumaker, Columbia City, Ind. 37-37--74
John Snopkowski, Morgan Hill, Calif. 36-38--74
Jim Sheerin, Rye Beach, N.H. 41-33--74
Jim Dickson, The Woodlands, Texas 38-36--74
Mike Borich, Salt Lake City, Utah 40-34--74
Russ Moore, Socorro, N.M. 35-39--74
Ric Burgess, Colusa, Calif. 36-38--74
Vic Lipscomb, Spartanburg, S.C. 37-37--74
Mark Black, Frankenmuth, Mich. 38-36--74
Jim Logue, Canton, Ohio 36-38--74
Steve Ball, Oklahoma City, Okla. 37-37--74
Tom Fortuna, W. Bloomfield, Mich. 35-39--74
Jim Razzeto, Rolling Hills Estate 37-37--74
Bill Dodd, Phoenix, Ariz. 37-37--74
Brad Sherfy, Santa Rosa Valley, C 36-39--75
Edward Whitman, Blairstown, N.J. 39-36--75
Bill Lindmark, Green Bay, Wis. 38-37--75
Steve Kusisto, Adrian, Mich. 35-40--75
Bill Garrett, Granbury, Texas 36-39--75
Jack Snyder, Gordonsville, Va. 37-38--75
Wes Smith, Naples, Fla. 36-39--75
Buddy Harston, Nashville, Tenn. 37-38--75
Billy Rosinia, Indianhead Park, Ill 37-38--75
Jack Connelly, Huntingdon Valley, P 36-39--75
Gary Baker, Pepper Pike, Ohio 35-40--75
Gregg Wolff, Metter, Ga. 39-36--75
Mike Roberson, Visalia, Calif. 36-39--75
Bob Klein, Reno, Nev. 38-37--75
Gary Groh, Highland Park, Ill. 36-39--75
Brian Lowe, Windham, N.Y. 38-37--75
Michael Mack, Westampton, N.J. 40-35--75
Mike Carney, Watertown, Conn. 38-37--75
Robert Gibbons, Molalla, Ore. 38-37--75
Jeff Whitfield, Columbia, Mo. 39-36--75
Jeff Coston, Blaine, Wash. 39-36--75
Dave Cook, Hamden, Conn. 38-37--75
Jim White, Lincoln, Neb. 38-37--75
Gary Woodside, Englewood, Colo. 37-38--75
Rick Neal, Springfield, Mo. 39-36--75
Terry Florence, Awendaw, S.C. 39-36--75
Craig Stephens, Broomfield, Colo. 40-36--76
Jonathan Kudysch, Syosset, N.Y. 39-37--76
Mark Kirk, E. Aurora, N.Y. 40-36--76
Greg Farrow, Marlton, N.J. 40-36--76
Reed Mcarthur, St. George, Utah 38-38--76
Brad Schmierer, Hastings, Minn. 40-36--76
Vincent Cali, Orlando, Fla. 40-36--76
Jon Stanley, Phoenix, Ariz. 38-38--76
Billy Harris, Dallas, Texas 40-36--76
Bob Rothgeb, Peru, Ind. 36-40--76
Bob Groff, Reidsville, N.C. 34-42--76
Mark Krause, Franklin, Wis. 38-38--76
Steve Nelke, Spokane, Wash. 38-38--76
Mike Darrell, Bay Shore, N.Y. 37-39--76
Mike Nickell, Fort Worth, Texas 39-37--76
Bob Percey, Farmington Hills, Mi 38-38--76
Jeff Hunter, San Antonio, Texas 39-38--77
Brad Hulett, O'fallon, Mo. 39-38--77
Steve Benson, Long Grove, Ill. 38-39--77
Scott Davis, Hurricane, W.Va. 39-38--77
Jim Arendt, Naperville, Ill. 37-40--77
Ed Sabo, Tequesta, Fla. 38-39--77
Michael Cook, Sonora, Calif. 37-40--77
Frank Palumbo, Havertown, Pa. 39-38--77
Ron Dunham, Jackson, Wyo. 37-40--77
Don Trahan, Inman, S.C. 37-40--77
Mel Mcintyre, Louisville, Ky. 40-37--77
Chuck Coatney, Edmond, Okla. 37-40--77
Tommy Thomas, Inwood, N.Y. 41-36--77
Gary Ostrega, Westfield, N.J. 36-41--77
Jim Cichra, Pittsburgh, Pa. 38-39--77
Bill Hall, St. Louis, Mo. 40-37--77
Bob Zimmerman, St. Lucie West, Fla. 38-39--77
Reed Hughes, Senatobia, Miss. 39-38--77
Ted Perez, Westfield, Mass. 37-41--78
Paul Jaycox, Tannersville, N.Y. 36-42--78
Tom Kammann, Baneberry, Tenn. 39-39--78
Clif Council, Kihei, Hawaii 40-38--78
Bob Boyle, Auburn, Ala. 40-38--78
Bob Gordon, Export, Pa. 41-37--78
Greg Wilson, Oskaloosa, Iowa 40-38--78
Ron Parsons, Oakley, Calif. 41-37--78
Mickey Piersall, Dallas, Texas 39-39--78
Mike Muranyi, Monroe, Wis. 37-41--78
Bill Galloway, Owasco, N.Y. 37-41--78
Stephen Dunning, River Forest, Ill. 37-41--78
Lon Kinney, Noblesville, Ind. 39-40--79
John Craw, Lincoln, Neb. 42-37--79
Gary Wintz, Ponce Inlet, Fla. 38-41--79
Ron Vlosich, Lakewood, Colo. 41-38--79
Kim Dolan, Las Vegas, Nev. 41-38--79
Barry Basham, Louisville, Ky. 38-41--79
C. Todd Smith, Matthews, N.C. 43-36--79
Jimmy Hamilton, Knightdale, N.C. 38-41--79
Mo Guttman, Sarasota, Fla. 42-37--79
Rick Pohle, Williamstown, Mass. 39-40--79
Cleve Coldwater, Clarks Summit, Pa. 41-38--79
Bob Mcgrath, San Jose, Calif. 39-40--79
Paul Daniels, Port St. Lucie, Fla. 43-37--80
Woody Fitzhugh, Great Falls, Va. 41-39--80
Steven Pinger, Cincinnati, Ohio 40-40--80
Gerald Fitzpatrick, S. Sioux City, Neb. 41-39--80
John Phillips, Savannah, Ga. 39-41--80
Steve Seals, Whittier, Calif. 40-40--80
Danny Kaye, Salamanca, N.Y. 42-38--80
Juan Elizondo, Omaha, Neb. 41-39--80
Tom Sutter, Mount Vernon, N.Y. 40-40--80
Lynn Janson, Grand Rapids, Mich. 39-41--80
Bill Spannuth, Loganville, Ga. 43-37--80
Tom Lernihan, Fredericksburg, Va. 42-38--80
Mike Moyers, Stanardsville, Va. 36-45--81
Bobby Hogan, Tonawanda, N.Y. 43-38--81
Bob Pfister, Glen Mills, Pa. 38-43--81
John Dahl, Oxbow, N.D. 39-42--81
Doyle Corbett, Ketchum, Idaho 41-40--81
Skip Holton, Waterloo, Iowa 42-40--82
Scott Basse, Marysville, Wash. 38-44--82
Fred Griffin, Orlando, Fla. 42-41--83
Philip Newcamp, Pittsburgh, Pa. 40-44--84
Mike Iyoki, Ewa Beach, Hawaii 42-42--84
Nick Spiegel, Farmington, N.M. 41-44--85
Kerry Greenwood, Mililani, Hawaii 43-44--87
Tom Gorman, Pompey, N.Y. 50-37--87
Daniel Fabian, West Palm Beach, Fla 51-40--91
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