Things to know

• The Ascension Charity Classic is being contested for the fourth time, each time at Norwood Hills Country Club.
• Defending champion Steve Flesch sits T34 (70/-1) and five back after the opening round.
• Three of the four first-round co-leaders from last year’s Ascension Charity Classic sit T2 or better on the leaderboard (Y.E. Yang/first, Kevin Sutherland/T2, Tim O’Neal/T2); the other, Billy Mayfair sits T53.
• Steven Alker, at No. 3 the highest-ranked player in the Charles Schwab Cup standings, posts 3-over 74, tying his highest round this season (74/R3/2024 Kaulig Companies Championship).

Y.E. Yang, 34-31, 65 (-6)

• South Korean birdies four of his last five holes to post 65, one stroke shy of his season-low 64 (R3/Kaulig Companies Championship).
• Holds the first-round lead/co-lead for the fourth time in his career on PGA TOUR Champions and for the second consecutive year at the Ascension Charity Classic; 0-for-3 in converting previous first-round leads/co-leads into victories.
• Seeks his first PGA TOUR Champions title in his 72nd start; owns two runner-up results (2022 Ascension Charity Classic, 2024 Kaulig Companies Championship).
• Both his PGA TOUR victories came in 2009 – The Honda Classic and the PGA Championship, where he defeated Tiger Woods by three strokes.
• Makes third appearance at the Ascension Charity Classic (2nd/2022, T3/2023); seven rounds at Norwood Hills Country Club: 68-66-66-64-66-70-65

Additional notes

• After three rounds in the 70’s en route to a T65 finish at this event last year, Boo Weekley opens with 5-under 66, his fourth round of 66 or better this season, including two (65, 63) at last month’s Rogers Charity Classic where he finished T10, his lone top-10 on PGA Tour Champions.
• 2024 Trophy Hassan II winner Ricardo Gonzalez was one of four players with a bogey-free opening-round score (Shane Bertsch, Chris DiMarco, Ken Tanigawa).
• In his 200th PGA TOUR Champions start, Kevin Sutherland seeks his sixth PGA TOUR Champions title, but first since the 2021 Cologuard Classic.
• Two-time PGA TOUR major champion Angel Cabrera looks to improve on his best PGA TOUR Champions result – T5 at the 2024 Senior Open Championship.
• Ascension ambassador Tim O’Neal makes his third appearance at the Ascension Charity Classic (T33/2022, T8/2023); one of four players to make an eagle-2 at the 301-yard par-4 11th hole (Ken Duke, Kirk Triplett, Michael Wright).
• With a 3-under 68, 70-year-old St. Louis, Missouri native Jay Haas (T11) shoots his age or better for the 20th time on PGA TOUR Champions.
• Monday qualifier and former University of Missouri golfer Jason Schultz sits T45 (71/E) in his fourth PGA TOUR Champions start, while St. Louis, Missouri native Jay Delsing sits T73 (76/+5)