Kelly and Shields Share Senior Open Lead
ScorecardsCANONSBURG, Pa. - Brian Kelly and Kevin Shields each shot 2-under par 70 at Valley Brook Country Club to lead after the opening round of the 2nd Pennsylvania Senior Open Championship, presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. Kelly attributed his bogey-free round to his work on the greens.
“My speed on the greens was really good,” said Kelly, of Bucknell Golf Club. “Really, my putting was a lot better than it has been most of this year.”
Kelly birdied the 6th hole (par 4, 325 yards) where his approach ended up just a few inches from the cup. And then on the par-5 17th, he hit his third shot to just inside two feet.
“I only missed three greens, and I missed them in the right spot,” Kelly said. “I had pretty easy chip shots because of that.”
Shields, of The Club at Nevillewood, had four birdies against two bogeys on his round. He will play in Tuesday's final pairing with Kelly as they compete with the event's other professionals for the $4000 price for low professional.
Tied for third, two strokes behind the leaders, were two of the Commonwealth's most-accomplished amateurs, Sean Knapp and David Brown. At even par 72, they will be in position to make a run in Tuesday's final round.
Four players tied at 1-over par 73 - professional Hugo Mazzalupi and amateurs Ken Phillips, John Barry and Artie Fink. The next highest professionals on the leaderboard after Kelly, Shields and Mazzalupi are a trio at 74 (+2) - defending champ John Pillar, Bernie Hough and Eddie Perrino.
The championship concludes with 18 more holes of stroke play on Tuesday. The Pennsylvania Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership of Valley Brook Country Club for the hospitality shown during the championship. Thanks as well to DICK'S Sporting Goods for sponsorship of the event.