Pernice off to Scalding Start at Hawaii Championship


Tom Pernice Jr. posted seven birdies on his front nine and tacked on five more on his back half for a 12-under 60 to take the opening-round lead in the Hawaii Championship. The $2.2 million, 54-hole Champions Tour event began Friday at Kapolei Golf Club.

Pernice, a 55-year-old Missourian, had a chance to match the tour record set by Kevin Sutherland at last month's Dick's Sporting Goods Open in New York. But he just missed becoming the eighth player in history to card a 59 in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event.

Starting on the 10th tee, Pernice birdied the first two holes and followed with birdies on Nos. 4 and 6-9 to make the turn in 7-under 29. On his home nine, Pernice added five more birdies and, with a birdie on the last, could have matched tour golf's magical number.

But Pernice got a par on the par-4 ninth hole for a 60, tying the tournament's all-time record, set last year by Mark Wiebe. Wiebe, the defending champion, isn't playing this week.

Trailing by four strokes is Michael Allen, while five behind Pernice are Joey Sindelar and Scott Dunlap. Recording 66s were Mike Goodes, Jim Carter, Paul Goydos (one of the seven players to shoot 59s in competition), Jay Haas and Vijay Singh.

Making his debut on the over-50 circuit, Davis Love III recorded a 3-under 69.

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