Jon Mansfield leads PGA Stroke Play, Karen Paolozzi paces the women

 

PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida (February 2, 2016) – Karen Paolozzi of Atlanta, Georgia, is the 18-hole leader of the 2016 Women’s Stroke Play Championship, while Jon Mansfield of Clearwater, Florida, paces the 2016 Stroke Play Championship. Both enjoy one-stroke leads after Tuesday’s opening rounds. 

 

Both stroke-play championships are being contested this week at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The men’s field was split on the Wanamaker and Ryder courses for the opening round, while the women’s first round was played exclusively on the Wanamaker Course.

 

Paolozzi led off with a 1-under 71 and leads Susan Bond of Stowe, Vermont, by a single shot.

 

The 2014 Women’s Stroke Play Champion, Paolozzi wasn’t ready to give herself a glowing assessment, despite her perch atop the leaderboard. 

 

“I ended up with five birdies, but one bad drive and a couple of poor iron shots kept me in check,” she said. “The wind made today challenging. It was more than I expected it to be, but there was also some rust that I had to deal with. It’s always fun to come down here [to PGA Golf Club] in the wintertime and see what I can find in my game.”

 

Paolozzi’s playing resume continues to grow, seemingly by the month. In the past, she played in the 2015 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, and has already qualified for June’s LPGA major at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington. 

 

Bond’s opening 72 was as welcome as it was unexpected.

 

“I did not expect much today,” said Bond, who was playing her first round of 2016. “I live in Vermont and before today, the last time I touched my clubs was to move them out of the snow in the garage. So, I just went out, had fun and played without any expectations. And look what happened.”

 

Jessica Carafiello of Old Greenwich, Connecticut, and Lynn Valentine of East Lyme, Connecticut, are tied for third place, four strokes behind Paolozzi.

 

Sue Ginter of Jupiter, Florida, the defending Women’s Stroke Play Champion, withdrew due to a shoulder injury.

 

In the Men’s Stroke Play Championship, Mansfield scorched the Ryder Course to the tune of a 66, a round that included an eagle on the par-5 fourth, six birdies and a pair of bogeys. 

 

The teaching professional at Clearwater (Fla.) Country Club, Mansfield has worked diligently on his game the last two month and the results have showed. He tied for 12th and third, respectively, in the final two PGA Tournament Series events at PGA Golf Club in December.

 

“I obviously hit the ball well, and putted really well today,” said Mansfield. “I played here twice last year and I’ve gone as low as 64 on the Ryder. I really like that golf course. It’s right in front of you, not too hard and it’s wide open. It’s all about fairways, greens and making some putts.”

 

Anthony Aruta of West Palm Beach, Florida; Rich Berberian of Derry, New Hampshire; and Jeff Wells of Redondo Beach, California, are tied for second, one shot behind Mansfield. 

 

Wells’ 5-under 67 was the low-round of the day on the Wanamaker, which traditionally poses the stiffest test among the two courses. 

 

Five players opened at 68s and are tied for fifth, including Bob Sowards, who has won this title four times (2005, ’06, ’13, ’14), more than any player, and is in search of his third victory in four years.

 

“I have lots of experience on these golf courses,” said Sowards. “Having four orange [former champion] markers by my name on the scoreboard here provides me with plenty of confidence. I am looking forward to the week here.” 

 

Joining Sowards at 4-under are Sean Dougherty of Leawood, Kansas; Richard Terga of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; Rob Corcoran of Melbourne, Florida; and Adam Rainaud of Old Lyme, Connecticut. 

 

Defending Stroke Play Champion Rod Perry is tied for 13th after registering an opening-round 70 on the Wanamaker Course. Perry, who also won this Championship in 2007, and Sowards are the only former champions in the field.

 

The PGA Winter Championships are presented by Premier Golf and Golf Advisor.

 

2016 STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - Round 1 of 4

Jonathan Mansfield, Clearwater, Fla.    33-33–66

Anthony Aruta, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.    33-34–67

Jeff Wells, Redondo Beach, Calif.    34-33–67

Rich Berberian, Derry, N.H.    33-34–67

Sean Dougherty, Leawood, Kan.    34-34–68

Richard Terga, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Rob Corcoran, Melbourne, Fla.    36-32–68

Bob Sowards, Dublin, Ohio    34-34–68

Adam Rainaud, Old Lyme, Conn.    33-35–68

Jeffrey Martin, Warwick, R.I.    35-34–69

Yong Joo, Bristow, Va.    35-34–69

Nicholas Beddow, Shirley, N.Y.    33-36–69

Eric Mabee, Pittsfield, Mass.    36-34–70

Jeff Sorenson, Blaine, Minn.    35-35–70

Matt Noel, Jupiter, Fla.    36-34–70

Ben Polland, Jupiter, Fla.    36-34–70

Matt Sita, Glen Cove, N.Y.    33-37–70

Frank Bensel, Jupiter, Fla.    36-34–70

Rod Perry, Port Orange, Fla.    33-37–70

Brett Melton, Washington, Ind.    36-34–70

Rob Labritz, Pound Ridge, N.Y.    35-36–71

Michael Sweeney, Floral Park, N.Y.    37-34–71

Ryan Helminen, Menasha, Wis.    35-36–71

David Carich, Noblesville, Ind.    35-36–71

Kirk Hanefeld, Acton, Mass.    36-35–71

Shawn Warren, Cape Elizabeth, Maine    38-33–71

Chad Proehl, Urbandale, Iowa    36-35–71

Jason Martin, Wheeling, W. Va.    36-35–71

Joshua Rackley, Jupiter, Fla.    34-38–72

Shaun Powers, Greenwich, Conn.    36-36–72

Wyatt Worthington, Reynoldsburg, Ohio    36-36–72

Marc Issler, Toms River, N.J.    35-37–72

John Paesani, Mattapoisett, Mass.    36-36–72

Brian Cairns, Walled Lake, Mich.    35-37–72

Scott Berliner, Queensbury, N.Y.    37-35–72

Andrew Bostrom, Montclair, N.J.    37-35–72

Scott Ford, Manhasset, N.Y.    37-35–72

Jerry Tucker, Stuart, Fla.    35-37–72

Micah Rudosky, Cortez, Colo.    38-34–72

Brent Snyder, Hudson, Wis.    35-37–72

Dwayne Randall, Clymer, N.Y.    36-36–72

Kyle Baehler, Greenwich, Conn.    36-36–72

Earl Cooper, Wilmington, Del.    37-36–73

Gregory McClimans, Clearwater, Fla.    35-38–73

Roy Vucinich, Moon Township, Pa.    36-37–73

Aaron Krueger, Norwalk, Iowa    37-36–73

Gary Bashford, Alamo, Calif.    35-38–73

Dakun Chang, Long Grove, Ill.    35-38–73

Charles Meola, Mamaroneck, N.Y.    38-35–73

Rob McClellan, Butler, Pa.    36-37–73

Mike Paukovits, Nazareth, Pa.    38-35–73

Ed Kirby, Wakefield, R.I.    37-36–73

Nick Frontero, Oviedo, Fla.    37-37–74

Ross Prachar, Humble, Texas    39-35–74

David Morano, Egg Harbor Township, N.J.    35-39–74

Kirk Stauffer, Bradford, Pa.    39-35–74

Daniel Urban, Glen Arbor, Mich.    37-37–74

Ryan Ford, Greenwood, Ind.    37-37–74

David Quinn, Marlton, N.J.    37-37–74

Kevin Syring, Demarest, N.J.    39-35–74

Matthew McAdow, Woodmere, N.Y.    34-40–74

Kirk Oguri, Mineola, N.Y.    38-36–74

Troy Pare, Seekonk, Mass.    37-37–74

Carson Solien, West Chester, Pa.    37-37–74

Kevin Wilczewski, Lexington, Mass.    38-36–74

Matt Zdon, Lowell, Mass.    38-37–75

Frank Dully, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.    38-37–75

Mitchell Camp, Aurora, Ohio    39-36–75

James Giampaolo, Torrington, Conn.    39-36–75

Ben Stewart, Fairborn, Ohio    36-39–75

Andy Santor, Boardman, Ohio    36-39–75

Bob Rittberger, Garden City, N.Y.    39-36–75

JC Anderson, O'Fallon, Mo.    36-39–75

Steve Barber, Victor, N.Y.    40-36–76

Rick Morton, Jacksonville, N.C.    38-38–76

Ryan Kalista, Greenwich, Conn.    37-39–76

Kyle Higgins, Massapequa, N.Y.    38-38–76

Cory Kumpf, Massillon, Ohio    36-40–76

Charles Raulerson, Fleming Island, Fla.    35-41–76

Michael Zaremba, Pueblo West, Colo.    39-37–76

Andy Hardiman, Stuart, Fla.    38-38–76

Michael O'Connor, Erie, Pa.    40-36–76

Jeb Boyle, State College, Pa.    37-39–76

Jim Boyle, Cadillac, Mich.    38-39–77

Blake Cummins, Bluffton, S.C.    39-38–77

Justin Pollock, Ann Arbor, Mich.    38-39–77

Rob Gick, Sands Point, N.Y.    41-36–77

Ryan Hritz, Clearwater, Fla.    38-39–77

Jason Gobleck, Ridgefield, Conn.    39-39–78

David Yokitis, Pittsburgh, Pa.    37-41–78

Andrew Richardson, Norwalk, Conn.    39-39–78

Kevin Ausserlechner, West Harrison, N.Y.    38-40–78

Craig Smith, Morristown, N.J.    39-39–78

Gary Robison, Canton, Ohio    38-40–78

Tim Puetz, West Palm Beach, Fla.    38-40–78

Patrick McCarthy, Huntington, N.Y.    42-37–79

Robert Jamison, Stamford, Conn.    40-39–79

Tyler Lower, Sheboygan, Wis.    38-42–80

Jeffrey Monteleone, Boston, Mass.    40-40–80

Bryan Bessinger, Lakeland, Fla.    39-41–80

Toph Sheldon, Cincinnati, Ohio    43-37–80

Colin Deep, Bethel Park, Pa.    35-45–80

Jason Peterson, New Canaan, Conn.    40-42–82

Pete Catanzaro, Stamford, Conn.    40-42–82

Brad Peck, Madison, Wis.    42-41–83

Patrick Massi, Greenwich, Conn.    42-41–83

Justin Roberto, Williamsburg, Va.    47-36–83

Joshua Fritz, Port St. Lucie, Fla.    39-45–84

Vince Ramagli, Cherry Hill, N.J.    40-44–84

Parker Brandt, Rye, N.Y.    41-43–84

Nick Iacono, Hockessin, Del.    46-41–87

Jeff Wibben, Kings Park, N.Y.    48-44–92

Eli Reid, Asbury Park, N.J.    46-53–99

Billy Anderson, Wilmington, N.C. WD--WD

Jason Caron, Oyster Bay, N.Y. WD--WD

Craig Czerniejewski, Hartford, Wis. WD--WD

Brice Busse, Farmingville, N.Y. NC--NC

 

2016 WOMEN'S STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP - Round 1 of 3

Karen Paolozzi, Atlanta, Ga.    36-35–71

Susan Bond, Stowe, Vt.    35-37–72

Marjorie Jones, Orlando, Fla.    36-36–72

Lynn Valentine, East Lyme, Conn.    37-38–75

Jessica Carafiello, Old Greenwich, Conn.    40-35–75

Sara Dickson, Bonita Springs, Fla.    39-36–75

Linda Nevatt, Warminster, Pa.    37-39–76

Ashley Grier, Hagerstown, Md.    40-36–76

Kammy Maxfeldt, Westport, Conn.    39-39–78

CJ Reeves, Bedford, N.Y.    40-38–78

Mackenzie Mack, Tampa, Fla.    38-41–79

Sherri Pla, West Palm Beach, Fla.    42-38–80

Mary Thomas, Greensboro, N.C.    39-42–81

Amy Carver, Darien, Conn.    43-39–82

Joy Bonhurst, Kensington, Md.    40-45–85

Gabriella Gunawan, Glenn Dale, Md.    44-41–85

Amber Richardson, Norwalk, Conn.    43-43–86

Paula Pearson-Tucker, Miami Gardens, Fla.    47-44–91

Alice Brown, Valrico, Fla.    54-51–105

Sue Ginter, Jupiter, Fla. WD--WD

Jane Sirmons, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. WD--WD