Schuller, Schneiter lead PGA Four-Ball Stableford Team Championship

PORT ST. LUCIE – Rick Schuller and Steve Schneiter have had their share of battles.

Not this week.

The longtime PGA Professionals combined to score 23 points Sunday and take a five-point lead after the first round of the PGA Four-Ball Stableford Team Championship at PGA Golf Club. They made an eagle, 10 birdies and two bogeys in windy conditions on the Wanamaker Course.

“It’s nice to have him as a teammate, not an opponent,” Schuller said of Schneiter. “Steve played great today, and I filled in the gaps. It seemed like when one of us was out of the hole, the other would make a birdie. Steve made a great eagle on 1 with two great shots and a 20-footer.”

Schuller of Chester, Va., and Schneiter of Sandy, Utah lead by five points over the teams of Charles Meola-Shaun Powers and Leonard Siter-Frank Esposito. Meola-Powers had an eagle, seven birdies and a bogey and Siter-Esposito had 10 birdies and two bogeys on the Wanamaker.

Shawn Baker and Mark Mielke, who won the PGA Senior Stroke Play Championship (50-59) earlier this month, are alone in fourth place with 17. Three teams have 16 points: Jeff Sorenson-Rod Perry, Jessica Carafiello-Doug Spencer and Brett Melton-Paul Claxton.

After each team has played a round on the Wanamaker and Dye courses, the cut will be to low 40 and ties for Tuesday’s final round. The projected cut is 12 points.

The PGA Winter Championships, conducted by the PGA of America, are presented by Golf Advisor and PrimeSport.