PGA Champions Tour rookie Vaughn Taylor birdied his final four holes and carded a 9-under-par round of 63 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the Ally Challenge in Grand Blanc, Mich.
John Rollins also closed in fine fashion, going from 3-under to 8-under on his 13th through 17th holes and is one stroke behind Taylor at 8-under 64.
Ireland’s Padraig Harrington posted a 7-under 65 for solo third place, while Paul Goydos, Michael Block and Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez were tied for fourth at 6-under-par.
Forty-seven of 78 golfers to tee it up at Warwick Hills were under par for the day.
Taylor, who has yet to win, but has made the cut in all 13 events he has played, started on the back nine and closed the outward half with three consecutive birdies. He made it four in a row by getting up and down from the greenside bunker at the par-5 first hole to reach 6-under-par.
The Roanoke, Va. native made his lone bogey on the par-4 fifth hole, then birdied his way home to grab the first-round lead.
“It’s a great feeling,” said Taylor about his round. “It was one of those days, the ball was going in. And to finish strong like that with four in a row was extra special. A lot of fun out there.
“I’ve got a lot of good memories here. I clinched the Ryder Cup in 2006 here, so that was a huge week for me, kind of changed my life. Yeah, a lot of good memories here. I missed having the Tour event here, so it’s good to be back.”
Rollins hit all 18 greens in regulation and played bogey-free golf. He drove the green on the short par-4 14th hole, rolling it past the 315-yard hole, then drained a 30-footer for eagle.
“I was able to keep the ball in play and just from there set up a lot of good opportunities into the greens,” said Rollins. “And the iron game was I would say fairly sharp. As you mentioned, 18 greens, I don’t know the last time I’ve done that. Everything just felt good. I was in a good rhythm, great group, great pairing today, all three of us good friends so that always kind of helps the day.”
Harrington, who stands No. 3 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings, took some good-natured ribbing about his disdain for the course.
“I didn’t say I don’t like this place, I said I don’t play well here,” he said after the round. “Yeah, you know, it’s not that I can’t play well. I obviously, I played reasonably well and I holed a few putts, so I ran with it. I said I find it hard to hit the fairways.”
Tour leader Stewart Cink carded a 5-under par 67 and was tied with four others for seventh place.
