Mediate Has Company atop Mitsubishi Electric Championship


Despite first-round leader Rocco Mediate following up a 6-under 66 with a 67, the was tied by Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez after 36 holes of the Mitsubishi Electric Championship. The $1.18 million event, the season opener on the Champions Tour, began Friday at Hualalai Golf Course in Hawaii.

The 52-year-old Mediate, who won twice in 2013 on the senior circuit in his rookie year, posted five birdies Saturday to reach 11-under 133.

The 51-year-old Jimenez, who won the Greater Gwinnett Championship last year in his Champions Tour debut, matched Mediate thanks to nine birdies and a bogey for the day's low round of 64. His only dropped shot came on the par-4 18th.

"I played very well today," said the pony-tailed Jimenez, a 21-time winner on the European Tour, where he still devotes most of his competitive energies. "Very solid for the first hole. I have myself a chance on just about every hole."

Mediate said the conditions in the second round grew difficult as the day got more blustery as it wore on. "With this wind, you just have to pay attention and play the right shot," the Pennsylvania native said. "It was nasty coming in."

Olin Browne is two strokes behind the co-leader at 9-under after a 67, while sharing fourth at 136 are Fred Couples (64), Scotland's Colin Montgomerie (66) and Mark O'Meara (67).

Couples, an 11-time Champions Tour winner, posted eight birdies, an eagle on the par-5 seventh hole, and two bogeys to match Mediate for the day's low mark. The popular player known as "Boom Boom" opened with a 72, so he was pleased to get back into contention.

"I putted really well," Couples said. "I hit some really good putts early in the round, and they didn't go in, then I started making them, and they all went in."

After carding a quintuple-bogey 10 on the par-5 seventh hole Friday, yet still managing a 72, defending champion Bernhard Langer came back strong with a 65 that included six birdies, an eagle on the par-5 fourth, and a bogey to get into a tie for seventh at 137 with Bart Bryant (69) and Mexico's Esteban Toledo (69).

The 40-player field is comprised of major champions from the past five years, other tournament winners over the past two seasons and sponsor invitees.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/champions/leaderboard.html.