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

Things to know

• 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.

K.J. Choi, 34-32 – 66 (-6)

• 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).

Stewart Cink, 34-33 – 67 (-5)

• 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).

Brett Quigley, 36-31 – 67 (-5)

• 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).

Rod Pampling, 34-33 – 67 (-5)

• 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).

David Branshaw, 33-34 – 67 (-5)

• 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).

Other Notes

• 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.