Perry Takes One-Shot Lead in Champions Tour Event


Kenny Perry fired a 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead in the Dick's Sporting Goods Open. The $1.8 million, 54-hole Champions Tour event began Friday at En-Joie Golf Club in Endicott, N.Y.

Perry, a two-time winner this year - with both titles coming in majors at the Senior Players Championship and U.S. Open - posted six birdies, an eagle on the par-5 12th and a lone bogey to sit atop the leaderboard after the first round.

Sharing second following 66s are Joel Edwards and the brothers, Bart and Brad Bryant. Brad, the older of the two at 58, has won four times on the Champions Tour. The 50-year-old Bart, a rookie on the over-50 circuit, won three times while a member of the PGA Tour.

Two strokes behind Perry are Jeff Freeman, Rick Fehr, Russ Cochran and Mexico's Esteban Toledo. Three back are Americans Steve Jones, Duffy Waldorf, Larry Nelson, Joe Daley, Jeff Hart and Corey Pavin, and Australia's Peter Senior.

Defending champion Willie Wood got off to a poor start after winning last year's Dick's Sporting Goods Open for his first of two 2012 titles on the Champions Tour. The 52-year-old Texan carded a 5-over 77 that included three birdies, six bogeys and a double on the par-4 15th hole.

Now in its seventh year, the 2013 Dick's Sporting Goods Open is the 1,000th tournament in the history of the Champions Tour.

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