Y.E. Yang of South Korea rolled in eight birdies, together with two on his last three holes, to shoot a 6-under-par 65 and take the first-round lead on the Ascension Charity Basic on Friday in St. Louis.
Yang began his day with 5 birdies and a bogey on the again 9 of Northwood Hills Nation Membership. After birdieing the par-5 second gap and bogeying the par-4 sixth, he responded with a birdie on the par-3 seventh and one other on the par-5 eighth to maneuver forward of the pack.
Yang is one shot in entrance of a five-way tie for second at 5-under 66: Boo Weekley, Kevin Sutherland, Tim O’Neal and Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez and Angel Cabrera.
“It was windy, however fortunately the greens had been mushy so I used to be capable of shoot a great quantity on the market immediately,” Yang mentioned.
The 52-year-old greatest recognized for beating Tiger Woods to win the 2009 PGA Championship has but to win on the PGA Tour Champions. However he positioned second at this occasion in 2022 and tied for third final 12 months.
He mentioned the hilly course reminds him of what he tends to play again in South Korea.
“I do know the course properly,” Yang mentioned. “I am fairly comfy with the golf course. I believe that I can play very properly on the weekend.”
Sutherland, who completed runner-up final 12 months behind Steve Flesch, eagled the par-5 second gap Friday and added 4 birdies to get to six underneath by way of 11 holes earlier than making his one and solely bogey down the stretch.
Gonzalez had the one bogey-free spherical among the many high six gamers.
Justin Leonard, Ken Tanigawa, Stewart Cink and Australia’s Steve Allan are tied at 4-under 67. John Daly is a part of a large group tied at 3-under 68. Flesch opened with a 1-under 70.
–Area Stage Media