SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Kirk Triplett shot a 4-under 66 in windy conditions Friday to take a one-shot lead in the opening round of the Sanford International.
Triplett, a winner in March at the Hoag Classic for his seventh PGA Tour Champions title, entered 10th in the Charles Schwab Cup money standings.
Paul Broadhurst and Tom Gillis shot 67 on a day when a dozen players in the 78-man field broke par at Minnehaha Country Club. Woody Austin was alone in fourth after a 68.
Full-field scores from the Sanford International
Triplett birdied the 16th and 17th holes to reach 4 under.
“It’s windy, but if you played a practice round on Tuesday, it’s the exact same conditions we had on Tuesday except the course is a touch firmer,” Triplett said. “Some really hard holes, but some other holes are playing easier as well.”
Gillis, who is seeking his first win on the over-50 tour, played conservatively because of the conditions.
“I tried not to take any chances really. I just tried to drive it in the fairway,” he said. “It was just too tough to chase pins and try to get the exact numbers. Basically the yardage book, you could throw it out because it was feel, it was all feel. I think the last hole I had like 118 (yards) to the front, I was in the right rough and I just chipped a 7-iron. It went about 70 yards and rolled all the way to the back, to the hole. It was just that kind of day where you had to actually just use some creativity.”