Steve Stricker, K.J. Choi share first-round lead with matching course-record 62s at Sanford International

Things to Know

• Charles Schwab Cup leader Steve Stricker and 2021 Sanford International runner-up K.J. Choi share the first-round lead after matching the course record with 62s.
• Stricker is the lone two-time winner of the Sanford International presented by First PREMIER Bank & Mastercard (2018, 2022).
• Three of the four past champions are T3 or better after the first round: Stricker (2018, 2022), Darren Clarke (2021) and Rocco Mediate (2019).

Steve Stricker, 30-32 – 62 (-8)

• Matched his second-lowest 18-hole score on PGA TOUR Champions (195th round)
  • Low round: 60 (2023 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, 2nd Round)
• Matched the low 18-hole score in Sanford International history
• This is his 11th time leading/co-leading after the first round on PGA TOUR Champions
  • Is 5-for-10 converting those into victories
• The 56-year-old seeks his 17th win on PGA TOUR Champions (62nd start)
  • Would remain in 17th place on the PGA TOUR Champions all-time wins list
• The Charles Schwab Cup leader seeks his sixth win of the 2023 season (15th start)
  • Would move him into T9 on the PGA TOUR Champions single-season wins list
  • Would become the third player since 2000 to win six or more times in a single season on PGA TOUR Champions, joining Bernhard Langer (seven wins in 2017) and Larry Nelson (six wins in 2000)
• Making his fifth start at the Sanford International, he is a two-time champion (2018, 2022) and has never finished outside of the top 6 at this event

K.J. Choi, 31-31 – 62 (-8)

• This is his low 18-hole score on PGA TOUR Champions (181st round)
  • Previous low 18-hole score: 63 (2021 Sanford International, 1st Round)
• Matched the low 18-hole score in Sanford International history
• This is his third time leading/co-leading after the first round on PGA TOUR Champions
  • Is 0-for-2 converting those into victories
  • One of those instances was the 2021 Sanford International (finished T2)
• The 53-year-old seeks his second win on PGA TOUR Champions (59th start)
  • Last win: 2021 PURE Insurance Championship
• Making his 19th start of the season, he has four top-10 finishes
  • Best finish: T3 (Two times: Kaulig Companies Championship, Boeing Classic)
• Making his third appearance at the Sanford International, his best finish is T2 (2021)

Other Notes

• 2021 champion Darren Clarke opened with 7-under 63 and sits T3.
  • The 55-year-old seeks his fifth win on PGA TOUR Champions (100th start).
• 2019 champion Rocco Mediate birdied seven of his last 10 holes en route to 63 and sits T3.
  • The 60-year-old seeks his fifth win on PGA TOUR Champions (221st start).
• Charles Schwab No. 4 David Toms sits T3 after shooting 7-under 63.
  • The 56-year-old seeks his third win of the 2023 season (Cologuard Classic, The Galleri Classic).
• Charles Schwab No. 9 Alex Cejka carded bogey-free 63 and sits T3.
  • The 52-year-old seeks his second win of the 2023 season (The Senior Open presented by Rolex).
• 2020 champion Miguel Angel Jimenez sits T22 after opening with 3-under 67.
• Making his debut on PGA TOUR Champions, South Dakota’s Ryan Jansa shot 1-under 69 and sits T47.
• 72-year-old open qualifier Dick Mast bettered his age with even-par 70 and sits T56.
• Fred Funk (T22) made a hole-in-one on No. 17 with a hybrid from 199 yards.
• John Senden (T22) made a hole-in-one on No. 8 with a pitching wedge from 132 yards.