Hanefeld grabs lead after first round of 2011 Southworth Senior PNC

LEESBURG, Va. -- Former Champion Kirk Hanefeld of Acton, Mass., taking advantage of a soft River Creek Club layout, posted a near-flawless 6-under-par 66 Thursday to grab the first-round lead in the 23rd Southworth Senior PGA Professional National Championship.

Hanefeld, a 55-year-old PGA Life Member and the 2008 champion, made the most of his third appearance in the Southworth Senior PGA Professional National Championship, which opened with the preferred lie rule in effect. He collected seven birdies against one bogey, building a two-stroke lead over Tom Herzan of Findlay, Ohio, and Mike Lawrence of Anderson, S.C., who each competed at River Creek Club in Leesburg, Va., in the showcase event for senior PGA Professionals.

"I got off to a good start and it was the best day to play this course. It was much more playable today than it was in the practice round," said Hanefeld, one of 11 former champions in a 264-player field representing 42 states. "I'm very happy that I could do well here, considering the course we play tomorrow (Creighton Farms in nearby Aldie, Va.) is one of the hardest two or three courses that I've ever played."

Hanefeld was one of 11 past champions who all began play on River Creek's 6,687-yard, par-72 layout that borders the Potomac River. Starting on the back nine, Hanefeld birdied 10, 13, 14 and 17, and added birdies at 2, 3, and 9. He bogeyed the fifth hole after missing the green and failing to get up and down for par.

"This is my third Senior Professional National Championship and certainly the experience in the desert (his 2008 victory at Indian Wells, Calif.) was nice," said Hanefeld. "I enjoy playing in it and today was a day that went very well. I was getting the ball close, including hitting to one foot on 13, to eight feet on 14 and four feet on 17. I missed two three-footers to shoot 4 under going out. The golf course did not play as long today, but I know that will not be the case tomorrow."

Herzan, a 59-year-old PGA teaching professional at Findlay Country Club, made his bid to regain the form that elevated him to a share of fourth in 2008, by making six birdies to offset two bogeys. Lawrence, a 56-year-old PGA Life Member, birdied the 18th hole to cap a four-birdie, bogey-free performance.

They are a stroke better than a large group at 69 that include defending champion Robert Thompson of Huntsville, Texas; 2003 champion Jeff Thomsen of Boise, Idaho; 2006 Champion Jeff Coston of Blaine, Wash.; James Kane of Edmond, Okla.; Craig Stevens of Dallas, Ga.; Mike Gray of Indian Creek Village, Fla.; and Roy Vucinich of Moon Township, Pa.

As difficult as Creighton Farms played, Kane enjoyed his first-round tour. His 3-under-par performance was the low round on the 6,954-yard Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, which averaged nearly three strokes higher (78.20 to 75.30) than River Creek Club.

"What a fantastic golf course!" said Kane. "I just played really solid. I only missed two greens all day and got it up and down on both of them. It's very difficult. You had to be very cautious where to leave the ball on the greens and the pins were good but if you hit good shots you got rewarded."

Kane, 53, is making his third Southworth Senior PGA Professional National Championship appearance after his best showing of a share of 47th last year. He serves as a liaison between the Folds of Honor Foundation and golf facilities across the country. The Folds of Honor Foundation provides postsecondary educational scholarships for the children and spouses of military men and women disabled or killed while serving our great nation, and golf facilities across the country and was founded by PGA Professional and F-16 Pilot Dan Rooney.

"I have known Dan [Rooney] for a long time and it's a pleasure to work alongside he and his team," said Kane. "It was a bonus to be able to qualify for this Championship and I am looking forward to the weekend. It is great being able to work with such a great team and also play at a high level."

The field will be cut to the low 70 scorers and ties following the second round. The final 36 holes will be played at Creighton Farms.

The Southworth Senior PGA Professional National Championship's 264-player field, composed of Senior PGA Professionals representing the 41 PGA Sections, will compete for a total purse of $285,000. Southworth Development, with headquarters in Newton, Mass., is in its first year of title sponsorship. Mercedes-Benz is a presenting sponsor.

Begun in 1989, the Southworth Senior PGA Professional National Championship is modeled after the PGA Professional National Championship, with a field of 50-and-older senior PGA Professionals who advanced through 41 Section Championships conducted from July through September this year.

The top 35 finishers in the Southworth Senior PGA Professional National Championship earn a berth in the 73rd Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, which will be conducted May 24-27, 2012, at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, Mich.

The top eight finishers, including ties, will receive exemptions into the 2012 Southworth Senior PGA Professional National Championship. The top five finishers earn an exemption into the final stage of the 2011 Champions Tour National Finals.

First-Round Scores:
Kirk Hanefeld, Acton, Mass. 66
Tom Herzan, Findlay, Ohio 68
Mike Lawrence, Anderson, S.C. 68
Robert Thompson, Huntsville, Texas 69
James Kane, Edmond, Okla. 69
Jeff Thomsen, Boise, Idaho 69
Jeff Coston, Blaine, Wash. 69
Mike Gray, Indian Creek Village, Fla. 69
Craig Stevens, Dallas, Ga. 69
Roy Vucinich, Moon Township, Pa. 69
Gary Trivisonno, Aurora, Ohio 70
Fred Holton, Montgomery, Ala. 70
Gerry James, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. 70
Jon Corliss, Virginia Beach, Va. 70
Sonny Skinner, Sylvester, Ga. 70
Clem King, Lexington, S.C. 70
Gordon Johnson, Houston, Texas 71
Bruce Martins, Cortland, N.Y. 71
Mike Harrigan, Chicago, Ill. 71
Stu Ingraham, Newtown Square, Pa. 71
Ron Beurmann, Jackson, Mich. 71
Jim Sheerin, Rye Beach, N.H. 72
Mark Fuller, Edmond, Okla. 72
David Carich, Noblesville, Ind. 72
Butch Sheehan, Rancho Mirage, Calif. 72
Bill Britton, Colts Neck, N.J. 72
Pete Oakley, Palm City, Fla. 72
Rick Karbowski, Berlin, Mass. 72
Kirk Stauffer, Bradford, Pa. 72
Tim White, Midlothian, Va. 72
Dave Kendall, Saline, Mich. 72
Mark Faulkner, Marion, Ill. 72
Jim Woodward, Edmond, Okla. 72
Scott Davis, Hurricane, W. Va. 72
Jamie Fordyce, Port St. Lucie, Fla. 72
Robert Linville, Greensboro, N.C. 72
Daniel Hornig, San Jacinto, Calif. 73
John Nolan, Warren, Mich. 73
Greg Farrow, Westampton, N.J. 73
Mike San Filippo, Hobe Sound, Fla. 73
Darrell Kestner, Glen Cove, N.Y. 73
Perry Arthur, Plano, Texas 73
Chris Starkjohann, Carlsbad, Calif. 73
Bob Gaus, St. Louis, Mo. 73
John Dimarco, Cherry Hill, N.J. 73
Dave Laudien, Wall, N.J. 73
John Wallace, Nampa, Idaho 73
Lee Houtteman, Glen Arbor, Mich. 73
Billy Rosinia, Indianhead Park, Ill. 73
Jim Booros, Allentown, Pa. 74
Ricky Smallridge, Auburn, Ala. 74
Mark Keating, Warrenton, Ore. 74
Shawn Kelly, Auburn, Calif. 74
Bill Sautter, Ocean City, N.J. 74
Jon Fiedler, Camarillo, Calif. 74
Wally Moore, Marshville, N.C. 74
Bob Ackerman, West Bloomfield, Mich. 74
Jeff Shaw, Windemere, Wash. 74
Jim Karr, Palm Beach, Fla. 74
Randy Cochran, Deerfield, Ill. 74
Ty Armstrong, Eden Prairie, Minn. 74
Russell Clark, Aurora, Colo. 74
Dean Prange, Indianapolis, Ind. 74
Matt Seitz, Hutchinson, Kan. 74
Tim Parun, San Diego, Calif. 74
Ken Martin, Wellington, Fla. 74
Jim Sobb, Barrington, Ill. 74
Ed Hester, El Dorado Hills, Calif. 74
Tom Atchison, Silver Lake, Ohio 74
George Forster, Villanova, Pa. 74
Louie Runge, Austin, Texas 74
Danny Elkins, Roswell, Ga. 75
Mickey Hawkes, Madison, Conn. 75
Rick Cole, Eaton, Colo. 75
Billy Sitton, Houston, Texas 75
Ed Whitman, Blairstown, N.J. 75
Mo Guttman, Sarasota, Fla. 75
Jim White, Lincoln, Neb. 75
Donald Hurter, Castle Rock, Colo. 75
Freddy Gibson, Orlando, Fla. 75
Perry Holmes, Denver, Colo. 75
Craig Stephens, Frederick, Colo. 75
Kevin Denike, Davenport, Iowa 75
Richard Rebne, Ringgold, Ga. 75
Dennis Meyer, Ft. Myers, Fla. 75
Steve Parker, Houston, Texas 75
Bob Lendzion, Las Vegas, Nev. 75
Charlie Gibson, Roseville, Calif. 75
Chris Dachisen, Wayne, N.J. 75
Charlie Bolling, Glen Cove, N.Y. 75
Ric Nalyd, Fort Myers, Fla. 75
Mike Boring, Shawnee, Kan. 75
Mark Kirk, East Aurora, N.Y. 75
Mike Malaska, Mesa, Ariz. 75
Baker Maddera, West Orange, N.J. 75
Reed Hughes, Senatobia, Miss. 75
Mike Summa, Armonk, N.Y. 75
Jim Empey, Boise, Idaho 75
Ray Boone, Cutler Bay, Fla. 75
Mike Parrish, Madison, Ala. 75
Kevin Marion, Lake Forest, Ill. 76
Tom Strueber, Dallas, Texas 76
Steve Wells, Dowagiac, Mich. 76
Randy Helton, Shelbyville, Tenn. 76
Gary Hardin, Easton, Pa. 76
Doug Bauman, North Barrington, Ill. 76
Bill Schumaker, Columbia City, Ind. 76
Tom Sutter, Mount Vernon, N.Y. 76
Bob Moreland, Ottumwa, Iowa 76
Ralph Landrum, Crestview Hills, Ky. 76
Jim Detrixhe, Santa Monica, Calif. 76
Carl Baker, Sugar Land, Texas 76
Brian Kelly, Lewisburg, Pa. 76
Troy Schleicher, The Woodlands, Texas 76
Mike Ahrnsbrak, Winchester, Va. 76
Mickey Piersall, Dallas, Texas 76
Jeff Whitfield, Columbia, Mo. 76
Barry Evans, Charleston, W. Va. 76
James Blair, Ogden, Utah 76
Brian Fogt, St. Louis, Mo. 76
David Thore, Wilmington, N.C. 76
Mark Fernando, San Diego, Calif. 76
John Francisco, Westminster, Md. 76
Mike Keymont, Orlando, Fla. 76
John Graham, Idaho Falls, Idaho 76
Ron Skayhan, Huntington Beach, Calif. 76
Mike Preston, Westfield, N.J. 76
Brad Schmierer, Hastings, Minn. 77
Rick Morton, Jacksonville, N.C. 77
Tom Sovay, Mukilteo, Wash. 77
Ed Sabo, Tequesta, Fla. 77
Bobby Heins, Purchase, N.Y. 77
Lindy Miller, Fort Worth, Texas 77
Paul Wise, Redondo Beach, Calif. 77
Rob Wilkin, Lenexa, Kan. 77
Cary Hungate, Kokomo, Ind. 77
Brian Lowe, Windham, N.Y. 77
Chris Campbell, Vero Beach, Fla. 77
Terry Simon, Alvaton, Ky. 77
Todd Smith, Matthews, N.C. 77
Barry Mahlberg, San Diego, Calif. 77
Kris Moe, Sonoma, Calif. 77
Dale Smigelsky, Fort Collins, Colo. 77
Mike Zinni, North Mankato, Minn. 77
Ronny Glanton, Richardson, Texas 77
Tony Vos, Holmes, N.Y. 77
Rick Lewallen, Kannapolis, N.C. 77
Gene Fieger, Naples, Fla. 77
Jeff Green, Salt Lake City, Utah 77
Louis Bartoletti, Sunrise, Fla. 77
Richard Von Tacky, Titusville, Pa. 77
Robert Burk, Hahira, Ga. 77
Jeff Fought, Black Butte Ranch, Ore. 77
Mike Paul, Reno, Nev. 77
Stan Wiel, Prospect Heights, Ill. 78
Terry Shell, Wintersville, Ohio 78
John Deforest, Accord, N.Y. 78
Bill Galloway, Owasco, N.Y. 78
Steve Heckel, Carterville, Ill. 78
Chuck Cook, Austin, Texas 78
Steve Danielson, Alexandria, Va. 78
Bob Meyer, Mcmurray, Pa. 78
Lance Taketa, Hilo, Hawaii 78
Mike Farewell, Manassas, Va. 78
Randy Wittig, Cave Creek, Ariz. 78
Dave Delong, Martinez, Calif. 78
Stu Nelson, Herriman, Utah 78
Mike Smith, Titusville, Fla. 78
Eddie Terasa, Waukesha, Wis. 78
John Grund, San Rafael, Calif. 78
Dan Koesters, Las Cruces, N.M. 78
Mark Gardner, Spokane, Wash. 78
Jim Razzeto, Rolling Hills Estate, Calif. 78
Cliff Bailey, Madison, Miss. 78
Brent Murray, Lake Oswego, Ore. 78
Ned Weaver, New Castle, Pa. 78
Stan Cooke, Homosassa, Fla. 78
Glenn Fischer, Sherwood, Wis. 79
David Young, Scarborough, N.Y. 79
Dan Hollis, Ocean Township, N.J. 79
David Lane, Tyngsboro, Mass. 79
Don Brigham, Manalapan, N.J. 79
Larry Emery, Carterville, Ill. 79
Al Weinhold, Placerville, Calif. 79
Mike Barge, Chanhassen, Minn. 79
Kim Thompson, Salt Lake City, Utah 79
Rob Schaal, Middlesex, N.J. 79
Bill Sellers, Orlando, Fla. 79
Wayne Defrancesco, Columbia, Md. 79
Dean Prowse, Cleves, Ohio 79
Chris Black, Lancaster, Ohio 79
Steve Stull, Richland, Wash. 79
Eddie Mudd, Louisville, Ky. 79
Gary Robison, Canton, Ohio 79
Fran Marrello, Plymouth, Conn. 79
David Grygiel, Windham, Maine 79
Wyatt Detmer, Newnan, Ga. 79
Brian Riner, Edina, Minn. 79
Quinn Griffing, Fort Wayne, Ind. 79
Mark Aebli, Wilmington, Vt. 79
Pat Stephens, Richmond, Ky. 80
Rod Nuckolls, Wichita, Kan. 80
James Julsrud, Altoona, Wis. 80
Jay Taise, Waikoloa, Hawaii 80
Denny Dolci, Sharon, Pa. 80
David Edwards, Dubuque, Iowa 80
Bill Israelson, Staples, Minn. 80
Stephen Diemoz, Portsmouth, R.I. 80
Brad Hulett, O'fallon, Mo. 80
Kirk Schooley, Frankfort, Ky. 80
David Foster, Denton, Texas 80
Greg Wilson, Oskaloosa, Iowa 80
John Mazza, Beaver Falls, Pa. 80
Buddy Harston, Kingston Springs, Tenn. 80
Brad Turner, Altamonte Springs, Fla. 80
Paul Jaycox, Cobleskill, N.Y. 80
Russ Davis, Acworth, Ga. 80
Pete Busch, Kenilworth, N.J. 80
Mike Kaye, Jamestown, N.Y. 81
Bill Harvey, Albuquerque, N.M. 81
Dal Daily, Albuquerque, N.M. 81
Dana Banke, Danville, Calif. 81
Joseph Demino, Lake Worth, Fla. 81
Gary Mcclure, Independence, Mo. 81
Chris Tucker, Fort Mill, S.C. 81
Mike Mccutchen, Aurora, Colo. 81
Steve Schaff, Gainesville, Fla. 81
Cory George, Lancaster, Ohio 81
Harvey Williams, Clarks Summit, Pa. 81
Bg Campbell, Oskaloosa, Iowa 81
Dave Desantis, Salt Lake City, Utah 82
Rob Horak, Fairport, N.Y. 82
Bill Loeffler, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 82
Randy Towner, Lawrence, Kan. 82
Mike Stewart, Edmond, Okla. 82
Craig Hartle, Cashiers, N.C. 82
Billy Jack, Alpharetta, Ga. 82
Mickey Yokoi, Phoenix, Ariz. 82
George Danielson, Oakton, Va. 82
Jack Seltzer, Linden, Mich. 82
Jack Mcconachie, Southington, Conn. 82
Mark Baumann, Omaha, Neb. 83
Peter Norton, Brockton, Mass. 83
Mark Gurnow, Chandler, Ariz. 83
Bob Pancratz, Chandler, Ariz. 83
Tim Walton, Kettering, Ohio 83
Carl Pedersen, Navarre, Fla. 83
Randy Erskine, Lake Orion, Mich. 84
Scott Spence, Galena, Ohio 84
Craig Sasada, Koloa, Hawaii 84
Jerry Covich, Ocean Springs, Miss. 84
Steve Munson, Greeneville, Tenn. 84
Ken Mcdonald, Houston, Texas 85
Gary Shastal, Spring Grove, Ill. 86
Brad Bowen, Haiku, Hawaii 87
Don Germer, Omaha, Neb. 88
Z. Barbic, Gearhart, Ore. 88
Mike Cornell, Omaha, Neb. 88
John Kellogg, Downingtown, Pa. 91
Tom Joyce, Huntington, N.Y. 96
Rick Bronson, Mexico, N.Y. NC
John Mcnaney, Catonsville, Md. NC
Ron Ptacek, Boise, Idaho NC
Mike Schuchart, Lincoln, Neb. NC