BEAUMONT, Calif. -- Jon Fiedler of Camarillo, Calif., fired a bogey-free 8-under-par 64 Sunday for the first-round lead in the PGA Senior Stroke Play tournament, the opening event of the third annual Callaway Golf PGA Western Winter Championships.
He takes a five-stroke lead into the second round Monday.
Playing the Champions Course at the PGA of Southern California Golf Club, Fiedler eagled the par-5 16th hole after birdies at Nos. 1, 4, 7, 8, 11 and 15. He nearly aced the short 15th, hitting 7-iron to a foot, then busted a driver and 6-iron to 14 feet at 16 and sank the eagle putt.
"I hit the ball pretty solid all day," said Fiedler, director of golf at Las Posas Country Club in Camarillo. "I think I hit 16 greens and two fringes."
Fiedler won the PGA Assistant Professional Championship in 1985 at Thorny Lea Golf Club in Brockton, Mass.
Two other Californians tied for second at 69 -- James Ley of Goleta and Charlie Gibson of Windsor. Bob Mann of Surprise, Ariz., the Senior Stroke Play winner here last year, opened with 70 for fourth place.
Competition among the 42 starters is in three age groups with the aforementioned players all in the 50-54 division. Other leaders were Bob Phillips of Glendale, Ariz., and Rodney Acia of Hilo, Hawaii, 55-59, with 72s, and J.R. Delich of Indian Wells, Calif., 60-and-over, at 71.
The tournament continues through Tuesday.
Callaway Golf/PGA Western Winter Championships
Senior Stroke Play
PGA of Southern California GC, Beaumont, Calif.
Champions Course, 6,571 yards, par 72
Jon Fiedler, Camarillo,Calif. 32-32-64
Charlie Gibson, Windsor, Calif. 32-37-69
James Ley, Goleta, Calif. 35-34-69
Bob Mann, Surprise, Ariz. 33-37-70
J.R. Delich, Indian Wells, Calif. 35-36-71
Rodney Acia, Hilo, Hawaii 35-37-72
Chris Herald, Dana Point, Calif. 35-37-72
Jim Hosley, Arcata, Calif. 36-36-72
Bob Phillips, Glendale, Ariz. 36-36-72
Rick Vershure, Armonk, N.Y. 33-39-72
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