Wes Short Jr. holds the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open’s first-round lead on the strength of a 6-under-par 66 Friday at En-Joie Golf Course.
A 57-year-old Texan whose most recent of four top-10s this season came in early November, Short made seven birdies against a bogey-6 at the inviting third. The 2016 runner-up is making his seventh Dick’s Open start.
“It was really good,” he said. “Hit more fairways today than I did all of last week probably on the first five holes, Last week was tough, makes this seem a little easier. I drove it really well. I only missed one fairway and maybe three greens and I putted a lot better.”
Bernhard Langer, 2014 Dick’s Open champion and 41-time PGA Tour Champions winner, closed a round of 5-under 67 with birdie at the 18th. He was 6-under at the turn — holing out for eagle from 91 yards at the par-5 eighth — but made three bogeys along the way to a 1-over back side.
“It was a strange day. I had to borrow a putter from (playing companion) Scott McCarron because mine broke (Thursday) and I was very fortunate to even find one that I could putt with,” Langer said. “Started playing really good, was 6-under on the front nine. Hit it close four times and then holed a wedge shot for eagle on No. 8 to get 6-under after eight holes.
Dick’s Sporting Goods Open’s: Live blog from the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
“I was hoping to shoot my age (63) today, but ran into some trouble on the back nine.
“If I had putted well today, I’d probably be 8- or 9-under right now, but it is what it is. The putter that was supposed to be shipped and arrive today, it didn’t make it because the plane was delayed, so maybe it’s getting here by tomorrow morning and we’ll do a little better tomorrow.”
Cameron Beckman chipped in at the par-5 12th for birdie and shares second with Langer.
A 51-year-old San Antonio resident, Beckman was a stroke over par through three holes but birdied five of the last six on the front, and proceeded to birdies at the 10th and 12th.
He has two top-10s in 14 PGA Tour Champions starts this season, and is a three-time regular-tour champion.
David Toms, 54, is among a group at 4-under 68. He was T42 in his 2019 Dick’s Open debut and is seeking his second PGA Tour Champions victory. He’s a 13-time PGA Tour winner who in 14 Champions Tour starts this season has seven top-10s.
Defending champion Doug Barron opened with a bogey-free 70.
Billy Andrade likewise opened with 68.
He is a three-time PGA Tour Champions winner with two top-10s in 21 starts this season— most recently in mid-May Mitsubishi Electric Classic. He’s finished 10th or better three times in the Dick’s Open, including a T9 (67-60-69) in 2019.
Andrade’s lowest Dick’s Open round is 66 (Round 3, 2018).
Skip Kendall joins that group at 68, two birdies per side. He is playing his second event of the 2020-21 season.
“I managed my game really well today,” said Kendall, 56. “I hit a bunch of fairways. I wasn’t in too much trouble except for maybe on 18, but managed to make par there. I think that’s — this golf course, it’s a premium to hit the fairways and when you do, it makes it a lot easier. Fairways are narrow, so if you can hit a bunch of fairways, you’re going to be in good shape, I think, and I did a lot of that today.”
Kendall’s top finish in three previous Dick’s Opens was a T31 in 2018.
A couple who’ll attract plenty of weekend attention: Miguel Angel Jiménez and Ernie Els, each at 68.
Joey Sindelar, longtime Horseheads resident now residing in the Town of Lansing, made 16 pars in a round of 72.
Follow Kevin Stevens on Twitter @PSBKevin. You can also reach him at kstevens@gannett.com.