Stephen Ames opened with bogey-free 64 to take a one-stroke lead over World Golf Hall of Fame member Fred Couples and Hualalai first timer Freddie Jacobson after the opening round of the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai.

Stephen Ames, 31-33 – 64 (-8)

• The 61-year-old seeks his 10th win on PGA TOUR Champions (245th start).
  • Last win: 2024 Boeing Classic
• Won four times in 2023 and three times in 2024 before going winless in 2025 in 23 starts
• Thursday’s 64 is his low 18-hole score at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai (22nd round).
  • Previous low: 65 (two times; 2019/R2, 2023/R3)
• This is his 11th time leading/co-leading after the first round on PGA TOUR Champions (2-for-10).
  • Wins: 2023 Trophy Hassan II, 2023 Mitsubishi Electric Classic
• A win by Ames would be the 51st victory by a player in his 60s on PGA TOUR Champions.
  • Would be the 31st-oldest winner in Champions Tour history (61 years, 8 months, 27 days).
• Making his eighth appearance at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, he has three top-10 finishes.
  • Best finish: T3 (2022)

Other notes

• World Golf Hall of Fame member and 66-year-old Fred Couples (T2) shot his age or better for the fourth time on PGA TOUR Champions with 7-under 65. Couples, a four-time runner-up at Hualalai (2010, 2014, 2017, 2020), seeks his 15th win on PGA TOUR Champions (163rd start).
  • Last win: 2022 SAS Championship
• Freddie Jacobson (T2), one of seven first timers in the field at Hualalai this week, opened with 7-under 65. The 51-year-old seeks his first win on PGA TOUR Champions (25th start).
  • Best finish: T2 (2025 Hoag Classic)
• Seven players are T4 at 6-under, including 2025 Charles Schwab Cup winner and Player of the Year Stewart Cink, defending champion and World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els, three-time Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai winner (2015, 2020, 2022) Miguel Angel Jiménez, 18-time PGA TOUR Champions winner Jay Haas, first timer at Hualalai Richard Green and major champions Mike Weir and David Duval.
  • Making his 21st appearance at Hualalai, Haas, who turned 72 on Dec. 3, shot his age or better for the 39th time on PGA TOUR Champions with his first-round 66.