Seeking second win in four starts, K.J. Choi leads The Ally Challenge after first round

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Daily Wrap Up

Written by Staff @ChampionsTour

Seeking his second win in four starts, K.J. Choi opened with a bogey-free 66 to take the first-round lead over a quartet of players at The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren.

Choi matched his low 18-hole score of the 2024 season (57th round). Carded 66 on four previous occasions this year.
This is his fifth time leading/co-leading after the first round on PGA TOUR Champions. He iss 0-for-4 converting those into victories.
The 54-year-old seeks his third win on PGA TOUR Champions (83rd start). Previous wins: 2021 PURE Insurance Championship; 2024 Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex.
Choi seeks his second win of the 2024 season (19th start). Previous win: Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex (July 25-28). This would be his second win in his last four starts.
He entered the week No. 5 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings.
He looks to become the fifth multi-time winner of the 2024 season on PGA TOUR Champions. Would join Ernie Els (3), Stephen Ames (3), Richard Bland (2) and Padraig Harrington (2).
This marks his fifth appearance at The Ally Challenge, his best finish is T4 (2021).

The 51-year-old seeks his first win on PGA TOUR Champions (10th start). Best finish: 3rd (2023 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship); T3 (2024 Regions Tradition).
Making his sixth start of the 2024 season, he has four top-10 finishes. Best finish of 2024: T3 (Regions Tradition).
Cink entered the week No. 39 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings.
In five appearances at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club for the PGA TOUR’s Buick Open, his best finish was fifth (2004). This is his first appearance at The Ally Challenge.
With a win on Sunday, he would become the 22nd player to win on PGA TOUR Champions, PGA TOUR and Korn Ferry Tour. Wins by Tour: PGA TOUR (8); Korn Ferry Tour (3).
With a win on Sunday, he would be the third first-time winner this season on PGA TOUR Champions. Previous instances: Ricardo Gonzalez (Trophy Hassan II); Richard Bland (KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship).

The 55-year-old seeks his third win on PGA TOUR Champions (102nd start). Previous wins: 2020 Morocco Champions; 2023 Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS.
Making his 17th start of the 2024 season, his best finish is T18 (Trophy Hassan II).
Making his fifth appearance at The Ally Challenge, he has two runner-up finishes: T2 (2020); 2nd (2022).

The 54-year-old seeks his third win on PGA TOUR Champions (107th start). Previous wins: 2021 Boeing Classic; 2023 SAS Championship.
Making his 19th start of the 2024 season, he has three top-10 finishes. Best finish of 2024: T3 (Principal Charity Classic).
Making his fifth appearance at The Ally Challenge, he has three top-10 finishes. Best finish at The Ally Challenge: T4 (2020).

Was one of three open qualifiers for this event after shooting 67 on Tuesday at Spring Meadows Country Club.
With a win on Sunday, he would become the 15th open qualifier to win on PGA TOUR Champions. Previous instance: Dicky Pride (2021 Mitsubishi Electric Classic).
The 54-year-old seeks his first win on PGA TOUR Champions (48th start). Best finish: T6 (2023 Invited Celebrity Classic; 2023 Principal Charity Classic)
Making his eighth start of the 2024 season, his best finish is T22 (Mitsubishi Electric Classic).

K.J. Choi's pretty approach leads to birdie at Ally Challenge

2021 champion Joe Durant is one of five players T6 at 4-under, along with Greg Chalmers, Glen Day, Bob Estes and Jason Caron. Durant looks to become the fifth multi-time winner this season on PGA TOUR Champions after winning the Cologuard Classic (March 8-10). He would also become the first two-time winner in the seven-year history of The Ally Challenge.
Caron, a New England club professional, earned his way into this week’s field by virtue of his top-10 finish (T3) at last week’s Rogers Charity Classic.. Chalmers, Day, Estes and Caron each seek their first win on PGA TOUR Champions.,
Charles Schwab Cup leader Ernie Els opened with 2-under 70 and sits T16.