Angel Cabrera and Angel Cabrera Jr. of Argentina birdied the final hole to take a one-stroke lead over Mark and Sean O’Meara after one round of the 20th PNC Father-Son Challenge at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Grande Lakes in Orlando, Fla.
The younger Cabrera sank a three-foot birdie putt on the final hole to post a tournament-record-tying 13-under-par 59 in the scramble format.
Team Cabrera, which got into the 20-team field when Curtis Strange and Tom Strange withdrew, birdied six first nine holes to make the turn in 6-under 30, before making birdies on the last three holes while coming home in 29.
“I’m very happy, indeed,” said Angel Cabrera, who captured the 2007 U.S. Open and the 2009 Masters. “It was a great round. Specifically, we combined very well. When I hit a bad shot, he hit a good one. That’s the key. I’m very happy to play with him.”
Mark O’Meara hit a brilliant approach shot and sank a seven-foot eagle putt on No. 18 to cap a 60, while Bernhard and Jason Langer made two eagles on the last five holes to tie for third at 61 with defending champions David Duval and stepson Nick Karavites.
“It was nice to finish with an eagle and Sean made it possible by hitting his drive 58 feet past me,” said O’Meara, who captured the Masters and Open Championship in 1998. He’s got the ability, but he doesn’t play all the time.
“Any time a father can play golf with his son, it’s special. We look forward to this every year.”
John and Little John Daly shot 62 to tie for fifth with Tom and David Kite, Jerry and Wesley Pate, and Stewart and Reagan Cink.
