Englishman Simon Griffiths and reigning Charles Schwab Cup winner Steven Alker each shot an opening 4-under 69 to tie for the first-round lead at the Trophy Hassan II, with seven players trailing by one stroke in Rabat, Morocco.

Simon Griffiths, (4-under)

• The 52-year-old Englishman is making his first appearance at the Trophy Hassan II and third career start on PGA TOUR Champions.
  • Previous Champions Tour finishes: T29/2023 Stifel Charity Classic; WD/2023 The Senior Open
    • Gained entry to 2023 Stifel Charity Classic as an event qualifier
  • In 2022, finished one shot out of a playoff at Q-School for both PGA TOUR Champions Q-School and Legends Tour
• This is his first time leading/co-leading after the first round on PGA TOUR Champions.
• Gained entry to the Trophy Hassan II field by virtue of a Top Four finish in the 2024 Legends Tour Order of Merit (finished the season in ranked fourth)
• Earned Legends Tour status in 2024 through Q-School and captured his first career win on the Tour at the 2024 Farmfoods European Senior Masters

Steven Alker, (4-under)

• Posted a five-under 32 on the inward nine, including birdies on 16, 17 and 18 to finish the round
• Making his first appearance at the Trophy Hassan II, seeking his ninth career PGA TOUR Champions victory (77thstart)
  • Last win: 2024 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai
• This is his 11th time leading/co-leading after the first round on PGA TOUR Champions.
  • Is 3-for-11 converting those into victories

Other notes

• Seven players tied for third: Hiroyuki Fujita, Tim O’Neal, Brett Quigley, Thomas Levet, Y.E. Yang, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Adilson da Silva.
  • Fujita – making his season and tournament debut. Seeking first win on PGA TOUR Champions in his 10th career start.
  • Making his third appearance in the Trophy Hassan II, O’Neal closed with eagle-birdie to post 3-under par and sits T3; seeks his second win on PGA TOUR Champions (54 starts).
    • Previous appearances: T41/2024; T52/2023
    • Last win: 2024 Dominion Energy Charity Classic
  • Quigley won the 2020 Morroco Champions event, held at Samnah Golf Club in Marrakech, Morrocco.
    • Seeking third career win in 109th start
    • Last win: 2023 Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS
  • Levet is making his first appearance at the Trophy Hassan II and seeks his first career win in 11th start on PGA TOUR Champions.
    • Best finish: T5/2019 The Senior Open Championship
  • After a T3 finish at the 2024 Trophy Hassan, Yang birdied three of the four holes (Nos. 12, 13, 15) on his final nine.
    • Seeking second career PGA TOUR Champions win in his 81st start.
    • Won the 2024 Stifel Charity Classic
  • Jiménez seeks his 14th career win on PGA TOUR Champions (186th start).
    • Last win: 2022 Boeing Classic
    • With a win, would move into T18 on PGA TOUR Champions all-time wins list.
• 2024 Trophy Hassan II winner Ricardo Gonzalez recorded a one-under 72 and sits T15.
• In his 200th start on PGA TOUR Champions, Paul Broadhurst opened with 1-under 72 and sits T15.