Mediate Sets Pace in Mitsubishi Electric Championship; Langer Cards 10


Rocco Mediate fired a 6-under 66 to take the opening-round lead in the Mitsubishi Electric Championship. The 2015 $1.18 million season opener on the Champions Tour began Friday at Hualalai Golf Course in Hawaii.

Mediate opened with six birdies, an eagle on the par-5 10th and two bogeys for a one-shot lead over Corey Pavin.

Bart Bryant, Wes Short Jr., John Cook, Paul Goydos, Tom Watson, Olin Browne and Mexico's Esteban Toledo all carded 68s in windy conditions.

Defending champion Bernhard Langer recorded five birdies but his round came undone when he posted a quintuple-bogey 10 on the par-5 seventh. After finding the fairway with his drive, Langer went for the green in two, but missed left, landing in dense grass and lava rock in a native area. From there, it took Langer five shots to get out. On the fifth shot from the lava rock, Langer double-hit the ball and then needed two putts to get into the cup.

Langer visited the winner's circle five times last season en route to being the runaway winner of the Charles Schwab Cup.

Also posting an even-par 72 was 11-time Champions Tour winner Fred Couples, who earned two of those titles in 2014.

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