Steven Alker, Doug Barron share first-round lead at Mitsubishi Electric Classic

Charles Schwab Cup leader Steven Alker and Doug Barron share the first-round lead after each opening with 7-under 65 at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic presented by Vensure.

Steven Alker, 33-32 – 65 (-7)

• This is his ninth time leading/co-leading after the first round on PGA TOUR Champions (third time in 2024)
• Is 4-for-8 converting those into victories (1-for-2 in 2024)
• The 52-year-old seeks his ninth win on PGA TOUR Champions (59th start)
• Making his sixth start of the 2024 season, he has one win and two runner-up finishes
• Won the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai (January 18-20)
• Looks to become the first multi-time winner this season on PGA TOUR Champions (Note: This is the eighth tournament of the 2024 season)
• Has led the Charles Schwab Cup standings for all seven weeks of the 2024 season
• This is his first appearance at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic

Doug Barron, 33-32 – 65 (-7)

• This is his fifth time leading/co-leading after the first round on PGA TOUR Champions
• Is 1-for-4 converting those into victories
• This is his low 18-hole score since the 2023 Hoag Classic (1st Round), when he shot 65
• The 54-year-old seeks his third win on PGA TOUR Champions (81st start)
  • 2019 DICK’S Sporting Goods Open
  • 2021 Shaw Charity Classic
• Making his fifth start of the 2024 season, his best finish is T12 (Invited Celebrity Classic)
• Making his third appearance at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic, his best finish is T5 (2021)

Other Notes

• Shane Bertsch sits T3 after opening with bogey-free 66. The 54-year-old seeks his second win on PGA TOUR Champions (89th start).
  • Last win: 2020 Charles Schwab Series at Bass Pro Shops Big Cedar Lodge
• Seeking his first win on PGA TOUR Champions, Tim Petrovic carded a bogey-free 66 and sits T3. Petrovic has 11 runner-up finishes on PGA TOUR Champions (158th start).
• Looking to win in back-to-back weeks, Paul Broadhurst sits T5 after shooting 5-under 67. The 58-year-old’s victory at last week’s Invited Celebrity Classic was his sixth win on PGA TOUR Champions.

• The last player to win back-to-back weeks on PGA TOUR Champions was Bernhard Langer (2017 Dominion Energy Charity Classic; 2017 Invesco QQQ Championship).
• Seeking his first win on PGA TOUR Champions, Richard Green posted a 5-under 67 and sits T5.
  • Best finish: 2nd (2023 Dominion Energy Charity Classic)
• Making his 57th start on PGA TOUR Champions, John Senden sits T5 after shooting 5-under 67.
• This is his second consecutive week inside the top six after the first round (was T6 at last week’s Invited Celebrity Classic). He had been inside the top six after the first round one time in his first 55 starts on PGA TOUR Champions (was T4 at the 2023 Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS).
• Best finish on PGA TOUR Champions: T7 (2021 Sanford International)
• Two-time champion Stephen Ames (2017, 2023) sits T27 after shooting 1-under 71.
• Tournament host Stewart Cink opened with 1-under 71 and sits T27.
• Two players made holes-in-one on the 147-yard par-3 second hole. David Bransdon (T46) used a 9-iron and Ricardo Gonzalez (T32) used a pitching wedge.