MADISON, Wis. – Steve Flesch shot a 7-under 65 on Friday to take the first-round lead in the PGA Tour Champions’ American Family Insurance Championship.
Flesch chipped in for eagle on the par-5 11th and had six birdies and a bogey at University Ridge.
“Hit a lot of good shots, got away with a few scratchy ones,” Flesch said. “Putted great and got the ball up-and-down all but one time, so I had a great day. But the putting was better than normal and I was rewarded with a lot of good looks for birdie and capitalized on them.”
Full-field scores from the American Family Insurance Championship
The 55-year-old left-hander won the Mitsubishi Electric Classic a month ago in Georgia for his second victory on the 50-and-over circuit after winning four times on the PGA Tour. He also won the Georgia event in 2018.
“A lot of good wedges,” Flesch said. “Converted a lot of the birdie opportunities and that’s kind of what I did in Atlanta as well.”
Miguel Angel Jimenez and Colin Montgomerie were a stroke back. Jimenez tied for second last year behind hometown favorite Jerry Kelly.
“The golf course is very good, perfect condition,” Jimenez said. “With the rain, it’s a little bit softer, you can attack more of the flags and the course is not playing as fast as last year. … A good golf course where you come and if you play well, you’re going to be rewarded. And if you don’t play well, you are going to suffer.”
Kelly, coming off a playoff victory Sunday in Iowa in the Principal Charity Classic, opened with a 68 in his bid for his third straight victory in the event hosted by Madison friend Steve Stricker. Kelly won in 2019 and the 2020 event was canceled because of the pandemic.
Paul Goydos also was at 68 with Iowa playoff loser Kirk Triplett, Esteban Toledo, Tom Pernice Jr. and Tim Herron.
Stricker opened with a 71. Bernhard Langer and Jim Furyk each shot 72.
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