Ernie Els leads after Round 1 at Principal Charity Classic

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Daily Wrap Up

Written by Staff @PGATOUR

World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els carded his lowest round on PGA TOUR Champions and matched the low 18-hole score in Principal Charity Classic history.
Defending champion Stephen Ames, World Golf Hall of Fame member Vijay Singh and 2024 Trophy Hassan II winner Ricardo Gonzalez are T2 at 8-under.
Birthday boys Rob Labritz (53rd birthday) and Chad Campbell (50th birthday) sit T5 and T9, respectively.
Today’s 69.37 field scoring average was the lowest first-round scoring average of the 2024 season on PGA TOUR Champions. Thirteen players had bogey-free rounds.

This is his low 18-hole score on PGA TOUR Champions (280th round)
- Previous low: 63 (two times)
Matched the low 18-hole score in the 23-year history of the Principal Charity Classic
- This is the third time a player has shot 62 at this event
- Previous instances: Kirk Triplett, 2012 Final Round; Kevin Sutherland, 2019 Final Round
- This is his sixth time leading/co-leading after the first round on PGA TOUR Champions
- Is 0-for-5 converting those into victories
Has led or co-led after four of his last nine rounds on PGA TOUR Champions
The 54-year-old seeks his fourth win on PGA TOUR Champions (90th start)
- Last win: 2023 Hoag Classic
Making his ninth start of the 2024 season, he has three top-10 finishes
- Best finish: T3 (twice)
Making his fourth appearance at the Principal Charity Classic, his best finish is T9 (2023)

Two-time champion (2021, 2023) Ames opened with bogey-free 64 and sits T2. The Charles Schwab No. 2 seeks his third win of the 2024 season (11th start).
- Previous wins in 2024: Chubb Classic (Feb. 16-18), Mitsubishi Electric Classic (April 26-28)
Charles Schwab No. 8 Gonzalez sits T2 after shooting 8-under 64. The reigning Trophy Hassan II champion seeks his second victory of the 2024 season (10th start).
World Golf Hall of Fame member Singh sits T2 after carding 64. The 61-year-old seeks his sixth win on PGA TOUR Champions (144th start).
- Last win: 2023 Ally Challenge
On his 53rd birthday, Labritz posted 7-under 65 and sits T5 along with Rod Pampling, Billy Mayfair and Heath Slocum.
On his 50th birthday, Chad Campbell shot 6-under 66 in his debut on PGA TOUR Champions and sits T9. The other players T9 are Ken Tanigawa, 2019 champion Kevin Sutherland and reigning Q-School medalist
Cameron Percy. Percy is making his second start on PGA TOUR Champions after turning 50 on May 5.
Charles Schwab Cup leader Steven Alker birdied four of his first five holes en route to 67 and sits T13.