Rutledge jumps out to early lead at PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada

Rutledge jumps out to early lead at PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada

Victoria’s Jim Rutledge jumped out to an early lead at the Mr. Lube PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada presented by Cleveland Golf/Srixon.

Rutledge, who won the championship in 2010, converted five birdies and an eagle Wednesday at Emerald Hills Golf Club in Stouffville, Ont., en route to a 7-under par 65. His impressive round set a new competitive course record at Emerald Hills.

“I got out of the box pretty early, birding three and four, and eagling five. Then I had a long stretch of pars before I managed to convert a few more coming in,” Rutledge says. “It’s the type of golf course that you need to place yourself off the tee—whether it’s 3-irons or 3-woods off the tee—get in a good spot in the fairway and then stay below the hole.”

The full-time Champions Tour member, who is playing a five week stretch of tournament golf that included last week’s U.S. Senior Open as well as next week’s Senior Open Championship, says he’s happy to be teeing it up this week at home in Canada.

“It’s a good stretch for us and we’ve been going at for about five weeks now, but this is really important to us and we’re glad we could come before heading over to Scotland to play,” Rutledge says, adding, “I’m glad a lot of guys are coming out to support this tournament.”

Three other players broke par on Wednesday at Emerald Hills, including Norm Jarvis and Daniel Halldorson who both fired 2-under par 70 are a tied for second. Daniel Talbot posted a 1-under par 71 and sits in fourth.

“It’s the type of course where you don’t hit woods because of the angles and firmness of the fairways,” Halldorson.

Gar Hamilton, Yvan Beauchemin and Dave Barr are tied for fifth after even-par rounds of 72. Rick Sovereign and Serge Thivierge sit tied for eighth at 1-over, while Greg Gates; George Lacy; Keir Smith; David Wettlaufer, Philip Jonas, Danny Mijovic; and Scott Allred were all 2-over 74 and T10.

Halldorson and Jarvis are tied atop the Super Seniors division leaderboard.

“Playing with Gar Hamilton and Bob Panasik today was just fantastic,” Jarvis says about his comfortable first round pairing. “Gar Hamilton reminded me so much of what I learned from George Knudson and Bob was out there playing great— breathing and swinging—keeping us regulated and on pace; so it was a great round.”

Halldorson, who won the 1986 PGA Championship of Canada, says he’s been enjoying tournament week thus far.

“We had a great (Mr. Lube Tournament for Life) Pro-Am yesterday and the guys really appreciate it,” he says. “It’s fun for me to be back because I haven’t seen some of the guys for a long time, so it’s nice to have this championship for the players.”

Thurday’s pairings—which began at 7:30 a.m.— are based on first round scores, with Rutledge, Jarvis and Halldorson going out last in the lead group at 11:30 a.m.

“Jim and I are very good friends and I’m glad he shot 65 because he’s played terrifically this year and obviously he’s the cream of the event,” Halldorson says, adding, “I’m just happy and lucky enough to be paired with him tomorrow.”

The PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada was first played in 1938 as a division of the Canadian PGA Championship. In 1973, the Seniors’ Championship became an independent event and has stayed that way ever since. Among the Canadian golf legends to win this championship are Stan Leonard, Moe Norman, Bob Panasik and Al Balding. Norman won this championship a record seven straight years from 1979 to 1985, while Balding stunned the golf world by winning the championship at age 76 in 2000.

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For second round tee times, please CLICK HERE