Looking for his first win in nine years, Billy Andrade leads at SAS Championship

Things to know

• Making his 10th start in the SAS Championship, Billy Andrade ties his low round of the season with a bogey-free 7-under 65; seeks a fourth PGA TOUR Champions victory and first in nine years.
• World Golf Hall of Fame member Padraig Harrington birdies five of his last nine holes en route to a bogey-free 6-under 66 in his third SAS Championship start.
• 2019 SAS Championship winner Jerry Kelly birdies his last four holes to sign for a 5-under 67 in his bid for a fifth top-10 finish in his seventh start in the event.

Billy Andrade (Leader/-7)

• In search of a first top-10 in his 10th SAS Championship start, birdied three of his last four holes (Nos. 15-17) en route to a bogey-free 7-under 65.
• His 65 ties his low round of the season in relation to par from round three of the Principal Charity Classic (T31).
• Is 0-for-3 when attempting to convert an 18-hole lead/co-lead into victory in a 54-hole event on PGA TOUR Champions.
• Best finish in nine previous SAS Championships was T11 in 2018; posted a second-round 7-under 65.
• Seeks a second top-10 finish of the season in his 24th start (T6/DICK’s Open).
• Seeks a fourth PGA TOUR Champions win; each of his previous three came in his second year on Tour of 2015.

Other notes

• After opening with eight pars and one birdie on his outgoing nine, World Golf Hall of Fame member Padraig Harrington birdied five of his inward nine holes to open his third SAS Championship with a bogey-free 6-under 66 and claim solo possession of second place. Previous finishes in the event: T45/2023, T25/2022.
• Making his first start in the SAS Championship, Matt Gogel offset one bogey with six birdies to open with a 5-under 67 (T3); he remains in search of his first PGA TOUR Champions title in his 50th start this week; best of seven top-10 finishes: 5th/2023 Insperity Invitational; both top-10 finishes this season have come in his most recent five starts: T7/Shaw Charity Classic, T7/PURE Insurance Championship.
• 2019 SAS Championship winner Jerry Kelly birdied his last four holes, Nos. 15-18, to open with a 5-under 67, good for a share of third place; in six previous starts in the event, has finished inside the top six on four occasions and no worse than T19 (2023).
• Making his 101st start on PGA TOUR Champions and fourth in the SAS Championship, 2020 champion Ernie Els opened with 2-under 70 (T21) in his bid for a fourth consecutive top-10 finish in the event (T3/2023, T10/2022, 1st/2020); his 2-under 70 in round one extends his perfect stretch of sub-par rounds in the event to 10.
• In his bid to join Bruce Lietzke (2001-02) as players to successfully defend a SAS Championship title, Rod Pampling is T57 after opening with a 2-over 74.
• At the conclusion of the SAS Championship, the top 72 players in the Charles Schwab Cup standings will advance to the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, beginning at next week’s Dominion Energy Charity Classic in Richmond, Virginia. Here’s a look at how those around the bubble stand after round one this week: