Madison,
21
June
2019
|
16:46 PM
America/Chicago

Jerry Kelly shoots 65 to take first-round lead

Playing close to his Madison home, Jerry Kelly tops the first-round leaderboard of the PGA TOUR Champions American Family Insurance Championship. Second-round tee times begin at 9:50 a.m. Saturday, followed by The AmFam Champ Celebrity Foursome, hosted by Andy North. The foursome of North, Jack Nicklaus, Brett Favre and Toby Keith will begin play on No. 10 at approximately 2:30 p.m.

On Friday, Kelly took the lead with a 7-under 65 on the University Ridge Golf Course, one shot ahead of David Frost. Six players are tied for third place, two shots behind Kelly, including tournament host and Madison resident Steve Stricker, 2016 champion Kirk Triplett, Tom Gillis, Corey Pavin, David Toms and Duffy Waldorf.

Kelly’s 65 included seven birdies, five of them on the back nine, but only one birdie on the course’s five par 5’s. He had no bogeys.

“To get this golf course at 7 under without getting the par 5’s, that gives me promise,” Kelly said. “It lets me know that there's still more in there.”

“When you shoot the lowest round and you're playing well, there's no negatives to that whatsoever. It's just go out and do it again two more days. No medals on Fridays,” he said.

Defending champion Scott McCarron carded a 1-under 71. Major League Baseball Hall of Famer John Smoltz, who is playing under a sponsor’s exemption, shot a 2-over 74.

Due to road construction and expected large crowds Saturday, fans are encouraged to give themselves extra time to get to the championship’s off-site parking locations. Free shuttles will take them to the championship’s front entrance. Parking will be available at Verona High School at 300 Richard Street, Badger Ridge Middle School at 740 N. Main Street, and Epic Corporation at 1979 Milky Way in Verona.

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