Raulerson, Pleczkowski grab Match Play seeds

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Charles Raulerson of Fleming Island, Florida, and Jake Pleczkowski of Siasconset, Massachusetts, each fired a 7-under-par 65 Monday at PGA Golf Club to share medalist honors and grab the respective No. 1 and 2 seeds in the 52nd PGA Match Play Championship presented by Premier Golf and GOLF ADVISOR.

A field of 59 PGA Professionals – including 30 from the 2014 Championship – open match play Tuesday on the Dye Course. The semifinals and championship matches will be conducted Friday.

Raulerson and Pleczkowski were among five players who grabbed first-round byes in match play. The others: JC Anderson of O’Fallon, Missouri, seeded No. 3 after a 66; Jeff Sorenson of Blaine, Minnesota, seeded No. 4 following a 67; and 2014 Championship runner-up Dwayne Randall of Clymer, New York, seeded No. 5 after a 68.

Three-time PGA Match Play Champion Bob Sowards of Dublin, Ohio, had a 73 and was seeded No. 31.

Raulerson and Pleczkowski are making competitive comebacks this year, having each spent the past year recovering from injured right wrists. Raulerson, 51, the 2013 North Florida PGA Match Play Champion, broke his wrist in a February 2014 pickup basketball game. Pleczkowski, 29, suffered an injured wrist when his approach shot hit a hidden tree root in the final round of last year’s New England PGA Section Championship.

The field also includes 1999 Champion Jerry Tucker of Stuart, Florida, the No. 9 seed, who had a 69 Monday. Rick Schuller of Chester, Virginia, the 2009 Champion, was seeded No. 30 after a 73.