Defending champions Kenny Perry and Sean O’Hair shot an eight-under 64 in modified alternate-shot play on Friday for a share of the first-round lead in the Franklin Templeton Shootout.
The teams of Matt Kuchar-Harris English and Charles Howell III-Justin Leonard also shot 64 at the Ritz Carlton Resort’s Tiburon course in Naples, Florida.
The 24 teams were to play better ball yesterday and finish with a scramble today.
After playing the front nine in three-under, Perry and O’Hair birdied Nos. 13 through 16.
“It was a fun day for me,” said Perry, the Champions Tour player of the year and Charles Schwab Cup points champion. “I mean, alternate shot is a tough format. To me it’s my favorite format. I love it more than any format of all the three. So, you know, you can lose it. If we get off to a crummy start it’s hard to catch up with best ball and scramble coming up.”
Kuchar and English birdied No. 12 through No. 14 and eagled No. 17.
English replaced the injured Brandt Snedeker in the field.
He hit a six-iron shot from 192 yards to 6 feet to set up the eagle.
Howell and Leonard birdied the final three holes on the front nine and added birdies at Nos. 10, 12, 13, 17 and 18.
Retief Goosen and Fredik Jacobson shot 67, while Jason Dufner and Dustin Johnson matched Chris DiMarco and Billy Horschel at 68.
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