PGA TOUR Champions players at Mitsubishi Electric Championship raised a lot of monies for local nonprofits before Thursday’s first round at the Hualalai Golf Course where leaders Kevin Sutherland and Darren Clarke both shot 7-under par 65s.
It may not be well known outside of golf circles, but tournaments under the PGA umbrella are fundraisers operated by nonprofit organizations. In fact, the PGA has raised more money for charity than all other professional sports in this country combined.
This week, before the first round of play began yesterday some of the PGA TOUR Champions players who are on the Big Island for the season opening prestigious Mitsubishi Electric Championship spent Monday helping raise funds for the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association (HSJGA) and First Tee Hawaii. Tuesday and Wednesday they spent their day playing in the Pro-Am with a lot of very happy amateurs who had the opportunity to get up close and in a foursome with one of the 42 players who earned their way here for the 54-hole stroke play Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai. As a result even more monies were raised for the Rotary Club of Kona Community Foundation, Daniel R. Sayre Foundation, Hualalai Ohana Foundation, Pua ka ‘Ilima Kawaihae Cultural Surf Park and the Big Island Junior Golf Association.
On Thursday, play was much more focused as the first round of the $2 million purse over the 7,094-yard set up got under way at the Hualalai Golf Course at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. Sutherland had quite a day finishing with a bogey free 7-under 65 and a share of the lead with Darrin Clarke with five players one stroke back.
“I played really good today, hit the ball really nice and I made some putts. It’s always nice to start the year that way. Everybody’s probably coming here a little bit rusty, so you’re just hoping to knock off some of the rust. Not really sure where the game is, but my game feels really good right now, I’m happy about that,” Sutherland said.
Overall pleased with his game Clarke noted, “Anytime you shoot 7-under at any golf course you’re pleased, but obviously first tournament of the year you want to get off to a good start and I managed to have a good round today. There’s always that one you’re looking forward to getting going again and it’s nice to shoot a good score today. Obviously I like the golf course, I won here a couple years ago. Hopefully go out and have a couple of better rounds the next two days.”
World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els is one of the five players tied for third after opening with 6-under 66, along with Corey Pavin, Mike Weir, Alex Cejka and Justin Leonard who is making his fifth start on PGA TOUR Champions.
Sutherland and Clarke were two of five players to go bogey-free on Thursday, along with Justin Leonard (tied for third) Corey Pavin (tied for third) and Bernhard Langer (tied for eighth).
Sutherland is looking for his sixth win on the PGA Tour Champions after 173 starts. He is making his fifth start at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai with his best finish in 2021 when he tied for fourth.
Clarke is making his third start at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai which he won in 2021. The 54-year-old seeks his fifth win on the PGA TOUR Champions after 83 starts.
Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez defending champion who also won in 2015 and 2020 shot 5-under 67 and is tied for eighth along with three-time Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai winner Langer (2009, 2014, 2017) who shot 5-under 67 with his bogey-free round. Langer is just one win away from tying Hale Irwin’s all-time wins record.
Making his 300th start on PGA TOUR Champions, David Frost is tied for 11th after carding 4-under 68.
Steven Alker current Player of the Year and reigning Charles Swab Cupb Champions finished at 3 under and tied for 17th.
First tee time Friday for the second round is 10:05 a.m. Last tee time is 12:28 with leaders Sutherland and Clarke along with Pavin. Tickets available at the gate for $25. Broadcast on NBC Golf Channel from 2 to 5 p.m. HST.
2023 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai
Second Round Groupings and Starting Times
Friday
TEE #1
10:05 a.m.
Jeff Sluman Hinsdale, IL 75 75
Jay Haas Greenville, SC 76 76
Cameron Beckman San Antonio, TX 80 80
10:16 a.m.
David Duval Cherry Hills, CO 72 72
Rocco Mediate Greensburg, PA 72 72
Fred Couples Newport Beach, CA 74 74
10:27 a.m.
Thongchai Jaidee Thailand 71 71
Fred Funk Driftwood, TX 72 72
Olin Browne Tequesta, FL 72 72
10:38 a.m.
Rod Pampling Brisbane, Australia 71 71
Mark O’Meara Las Vegas, NV 71 71
Steve Flesch Union, KY 71 71
10:49 a.m.
K.J. Choi Dallas, TX 70 70
Stephen Ames Canada 70 70
Stephen Dodd Wales 71 71
11 a.m.
Jerry Kelly Madison, WI 69 69
Doug Barron Memphis, TN 70 70
David Toms Shreveport, LA 70 70
11:11 a.m.
Colin Montgomerie Scotland 69 69
Paul Broadhurst Nuneaton, England 69 69
Steven Alker Hamilton, New Zealand 69 69
11:22 a.m.
Lee Janzen Orlando, FL 69 69
Scott Parel Augusta, GA 69 69
Vijay Singh Fiji Islands, Fiji 69 69
11:33 a.m.
Steve Stricker Madison, WI 68 68
Tom Lehman Scottsdale, AZ 69 69
Joe Durant Pensacola Beach, FL 69 69
11:44 a.m.
Dicky Pride Tuscaloosa, AL 68 68
Ken Tanigawa Scottsdale, AZ 68 68
Retief Goosen South Africa 68 68
11:55 a.m.
Bernhard Langer Munich, Germany 67 67
David Frost Delray Beach, FL 68 68
Scott McCarron Mooresville, NC 68 68
12:06 p.m.
Ernie Els South Africa 66 66
Michael Allen Scottsdale, AZ 67 67
Miguel Angel Jiménez Malaga, Spain 67 67
12:17 p.m.
Mike Weir Brights Grv, ON, Canada 66 66
Justin Leonard Jupiter, FL 66 66
Alex Cejka Germany 66 66
12:28 p.m.
Kevin Sutherland Sacramento, CA 65 65
Darren Clarke The Abaco Club at Winding Bay, Bahamas 65 65
Corey Pavin Dallas, TX 66 66