Rocco Mediate posted a 9-under-par 63 to take a one-stroke lead over Dan Forsman after one round of the Mitsubishi Electric Championship, first event of the Champions Tour season, at Hualalai Golf Club in Ka’upulehu-Kona, Hawaii.
Mediate, who won the Allianz Championship and the Shaw Charity Classic as a rookie on the senior circuit last season after winning six times on the PGA Tour, was 6-under after seven holes, capped by an eagle at No. 7, and added three birdies on the back nine in his bogey-free round.
“I almost didn’t play; my left hip is really bothering me,” said Mediate, who will marry longtime girlfriend Jessica Somers at the Four Seasons Hualalai on Monday. “The chiropractors here are exceptional. I went out and told myself to try and play. It actually got better as the round went on. This came out of nowhere.”
Forsman, a three-time winner on the Champions Tour, matched Mediate with seven birdies and an eagle, but also carded a bogey on the eighth hole in his round of 64.
Fred Couples recorded eagles on the fourth and seventh holes while shooting 65 and was tied for third with Steve Elkington, Fred Funk and Tom Pernice Jr.
Mark O’Meara came in at 66 and tied for seventh with Jay Don Blake, Jeff Sluman, Bernhard Langer and Bart Bryant.
Defending champion John Cook opened with a 69 and was tied for 17th.
