Fieger and Oakley lead divisions at PGA Quarter Century Championship

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Posting seven birdies during a bogey-free round, Gene Fieger of Naples, Florida, shot 7-under-par 65 on the Ryder Course at PGA Golf Club Wednesday, to take the opening round lead in the 64-and-Under Division of the PGA Quarter Century Championship presented by Premier Golf and GOLF ADVISOR. 

 

On the Wanamaker Course, Pete Oakley, of Palm City, Florida, shot 66 to pace the 65-and-Over Division.

 

Fieger, who won the 2013 Senior PGA Professional National Championship at PGA Golf Club last April (due to a weather postponement from the previous year), birdied five consecutive holes for a three-stroke lead over Rick Lewallen of Kannapolis, North Carolina, who shot 68. Four PGA Professionals are tied for third, four strokes off the pace.

 

During his birdie streak, Fieger made putts of greater than 15 feet on three different holes. 

 

“They were some good putts at the right time,” said Fieger, 54, PGA Club Manager at Hideout Golf Club in Naples. “The greens were perfect and soft, and I hit a lot of good shots.”

 

Oakley, 65, who won the 2004 Senior British Open, made six birdies to take a one-stroke lead over 70-year-old Bob Dickson, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Four PGA members are three strokes back, at 69.

 

The oldest competitor in the field, Bill Erfurth, of Northbrook, Illinois, shot 2-over-par 74, which is 11 strokes below his age of 85. 

 

The final round will be played Thursday. The 61st PGA Quarter Century Championship presented by Premier Golf and GOLF ADVISOR is the first of six PGA Winter Championships conducted at PGA Golf Club during January and February.