Defending champ Britton one off pace after first round at Senior PNC

PGA Life Member James Blair III of Ogden, Utah, overcame a near-disastrous start by posting a sparkling 5-under-par 67 to share the first round lead with Mark Faulkner of Marion, Ill., and Billy Rosinia of Indianhead Park, Ill., Thursday in the 22nd PGA Professional National Championship. All three players began their Championship pursuit on the nearby Rancho La Quinta Country Club layout in La Quinta, Calif. The final two rounds will be contested Saturday and Sunday at Toscana Country Club in Indian Wells. Defending Champion Bill Britton of Rumson, N.J., leads a group of six players who sit just a stroke back. Blair, who began his round on the back nine at Rancho La Quinta, birdied the par-4 10th and added another birdie at 14. He then hit balls into the water on the par-3 17th and the par-5 18th, making the turn at even par. "I started off well but then made a few mistakes by hitting into the water at 17 and 18," said Blair, who tied for 45th at the Senior PGA Championship last May. He recovered in style, with birdies at Nos. 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9 and needed only needed 28 putts overall. "I hit some really good iron shots over the last nine holes of my round," said Blair. "I hit it to inside 5 feet on all but one of my birdies on the back nine and I didn't have to chip at all today." Faulkner, the PGA head professional at Lake of Egypt Country Club in Marion, Ill., played three practice rounds without hitting a ball into a bunker. That all changed on the first hole of his opening round. "It was kind of weird to not hit a bunker all week in practice, then to hit one on my opening hole," said Faulkner. "I made a good up and down for par and that really helped me relax a little bit." Faulkner finished his round with five birdies and no bogeys. "I hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation and played really solid golf all day," he said. "It's going to be a different story at Toscana Country Club but I like how I have started." Rosinia, the PGA head professional at Flagg Creek Golf Course in Indianhead Park, Ill., began his round on the back nine of the Rancho La Quinta and opened with a birdie. "It was really good for me to get that opening birdie," said Rosinia. "I was able to stay patient and play my game." Rosinia made a charge on his final nine holes, chipping in for eagle at the par-5 eighth hole. "It was a nice way to finish my round," said Rosinia. "I got a great read on the line and hit it perfect. But there is a lot of golf left." Britton, who recorded a par on his opening hole, double-bogeyed his second hole of the day, the par-4 11th, after hitting his drive in the water. But he bounced back with birdies on 13, 14 and 15 to aid his recovery. "That birdie at 13 really helped out a lot and gave me some confidence to see the ball go in the hole," said Britton. "And the next two birdies helped even more." Britton's round continued to improve, as he birdied three birdies on his back nine, including his final two holes. "Overall, things were up and down for me out there today," said Britton. "But in the end, they seemed to my way and I closed with birdies on my last two holes." Among those at 68 are 1996 PGA Professional National Champion Darrell Kestner of Glen Cove, N.Y.; two-time Senior PGA Professional National Champion Ed Sabo of Tequesta, Fla.; and Gary Sowinski of San Diego. "I really like the courses in California, the weather and the desert," said Sabo, who won the 2000 and 2001 Championships. "I hit some great iron shots out there today and I am only looking to the next round and hoping to continue to play well." Sowinski turned in a near-flawless 68 for the lowest first-round performance at Toscana Country Club. The 58-year-old Sowinski, the founder of SwingWorks Golf, a company specializing in golf fitness and executive training, needed only 24 putts. He had five birdies to offset a bogey at 16. "I like this golf course. It gives you some opportunity to take some risks, but it also forces you to manage your game," said Sowinski, who improved upon a final-round 69 in the 2008 Senior PGA Professional National Championship. "Except for a bad second shot at 16, I was able to hit it in the right places." Included among those who sit a stroke back at 68 are Eddie Mudd of Tequesta, Fla., and Gene Fieger of Naples, Fla. The 264-player field features PGA Professionals that are at least 50 years of age, as of the Championship, who have qualified through one of the 41 PGA Sections The low 35 finishers in the 22nd Senior PGA Professional National Championship will qualify for the 2011 Senior PGA Championship, May 25-29, at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. The top eight finishers, including ties, will receive exemptions into the 2011 Senior PGA Professional National Championship. In addition, the top five finishers will be exempt into the Champions Tour National Qualifying Finals at TPC Eagle Trace, provided they have submitted an entry by the entry deadline.