Matt Kuchar and his 16-year-old son Cameron shot 15-under-par 57 in the scramble format to take a three-stroke lead over four teams after the first round of the 26th PNC Challenge in a sprinkling rain at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Fla.
Team Kuchar finished one shot off the tournament record of 57 set by Davis Love III and his son Dru on their way to claiming the PNC title in 2018.
The event features major champions from the PGA Tour, the LPGA Tour and the PGA Tour Champions, plus winners of the Players Championship, teaming with relatives who are not professional golfers.
The second and final round of the tournament will be played on Sunday.
“It’s been a fun deal and (Cameron’s) progression has just kind of been everywhere,” said Matt Kuchar, who has won nine times on the PGA Tour, including the 2012 Players Championship. “You watch the whole game get better, whether it’s off the tee where he has an advantage with length, and his irons are great.
“I think anybody who sees him with a wedge in his hand comes away impressed. He’s got a great short game. Clearly (he) has great speed and amazing technique.”
Said Cameron Kuchar: “I like playing in bad weather. Why? Because no one else likes it. … “That eagle putt (on No. 3) was big. After I made it, I was talking to my brother in the cart, and I was like: ‘Oh, wow, we are 10 or 11 under through 12 holes, this is pretty cool.’”
The Kuchars started on the 10th hole and made five straight birdies to start their round and 13 overall, in addition to Cameron’s 40-foot eagle putt on the third hole of what was their back nine.
Vijay Singh of Fiji and his son Cass, won the PNC title two years ago, made four straight birdies on each nine and 12 overall in a 60 to tie for second with Bernhard Langer and his son Jason, who won this event in 2014 and 2019, David Duval and his son Brady, who also eagled the third hole, and Retief Goosen and his son Leo, who made eight of their 12 birdies on the front nine.
Defending champions John Daley and his son John II collected six of their 11 birdies on the front nine and are solo sixth at 61, while 2013 champions Stewart and his son Regan made four straight birdies to start the back nine en route to a 62 and are tied for seventh with Mark O’Meara and his son Sean, Annika Sorenstam of Sweden and her son Will McGee, and Tom Lehman and his son Sean, who had four straight birdies after starting on the back nine.
Tiger Woods and his 14-year-old son Charlie, who finished second two years ago, birdied the last two holes for a 64 and are tied for 11th with Steve Stricker and his daughter Izzy, who birdied their last three holes, Nelly Korda and her father Petr, who birdied the first three holes, Justin Leonard and his son Luke, who birdied their first five holes, and Justin Thomas and his father Mike, who won this event in 2020.
Jim Furyk and his son Tanner are 16th at 66 after three birdies on each nine, followed by Padraig Harrington and his son Ciaran at 67, while Nick Faldo of England and his son Matthew totaled 68 and are tied for 18th with Nick Price of South Africa and his son Greg, who eagled the 18th hole, and Lee Trevino and his grandson Daniel, who also eagled No. 18 and are 20th at 69.
Trevino is the only player who competed in this event all 26 years.
This tournament was first played in 1995, when Raymond Floyd and his son Raymond Jr. claimed the first of their record four titles in the event.
For complete results and final round tee times, visit: https://www.pgatour.com/pgatour-champions/leaderboard
