David Toms and Canada’s Stephen Ames shot bogey-free rounds of 7-under 65 to share the lead after one spherical on the Mitsubishi Electric Classic on Friday in Duluth, Ga.
The PGA Tour Champions veterans have already received this season and are trying to find one other title. They have a one-shot edge over Ken Tanigawa, Lee Janzen, South Korea’s Y.E. Yang and Australian Rod Pampling, who’re tied for third at 6-under 66.
Not far behind are Paul Goydos, Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez and German Bernhard Langer at 5-under 67. Langer, age 65, would break the all-time Champions Tour document with another victory; he’s tied with Hale Irwin at 45 for his profession.
Toms picked up a pair of victories in March on the Cologuard Classic and the Galleri Classic. After tying for third final week on the Insperity Invitational, he is in second place within the Charles Schwab Cup cash standings.
Toms began his spherical on the again 9 at TPC Sugarloaf and made three birdies going out earlier than piling on 4 extra on the second 9. It was posed to Toms within the media middle that he was on a heater.
“That’s what I tried to do when I was on the (PGA) Tour. When you felt good about your game, you needed to capitalize on it,” Toms stated. “When you have been assured, you wanted to play nicely. There’s so many days that may beat you up and you’ll’t rating that if you end up enjoying nicely, you could make the most of it.
“That’s where I feel like I am right now. I feel good about my tee ball, I feel good about iron shots, judging distance properly, speed’s been pretty good on the greens lately and I’ve made my fair share.”
Ames, who received the Trophy Hassan II in February, additionally opened on the again 9. He made the flip with a pair of birdies — the par-5 18th and the par-4 first — and added three straight at Nos. 6-8 earlier than ending up.
Ames received the Mitsubishi Electric in 2017, although he stated TPC Sugarloaf is a distinct course nowadays.
“I think overall the condition of the golf course is awesome,” Ames stated. “A little thin in some areas, but overall the condition of the golf course is very nice, and the weather’s been holding off, which is even better. So we’ll see what happens for the rest of the weekend.”
–Field Level Media