Weibring and Lehman share first round lead at Tradition
D.A. Weibring tied with Tom Lehman for the first round lead at the Jeld-Wen Tradition on Thursday. Historically the final two holes at the Crosswater Club are the most difficult holes on the course, but Weibring conquered both with birdies, and finished at five-under 67. The Jeld-Wen Tradition is the fourth of five majors on the Champions Tour.
Weibring almost shot a bogey-free round except for the par-4 14th hole. The bogey on the 468-yard hole put him three strokes behind the leader, but he made up for it with a 12-foot birdie on the par-3 17th hole and then with an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th hole.
“You don't normally plan on making birdies at 17 and 18," Weibring said. The last time the 57-year-old won on the Champions Tour was in 2008 at the Seniors Players Championship. The last time he played at Crosswater Weibring finished third, and describes himself as “a day in, day out,” type of player. This is in part due to a bone spur in his left shoulder which causes pain every now and then.
Six other players earned birdies on the 18th hole, including Lehman. His 30-foot putt dived in and Lehman pulled even with Weibring to be joint leader. The shot was typical of Lehman’s day as five of his six birdie putts came from 15-30 feet away. Lehman’s iron play was the only thing that suffered on Thursday, “The irons some days feel like a spatula in your hand. I hit very few good shots," Lehman said. "If I hadn't had a good putting round, it would have [been] a very mediocre day.”
Weibring and Lehman’s head the field, but almost one-third of the field is within two strokes of their lead, and 36 players broke par. Five players shot 68, which was one behind the co-leaders. Corey Pavin, U.S. Ryder Cup captain, was one of these players. Pavin eagled the par-4 10th hole with his 8-iron from 168 yards away.
Fred Funk, Bob Gilber, Gil Morgan and Fulton Allem also shot 68 on Thursday. Allem is ranked 91st on the Champions Tour earnings list this season, and was the most unlikely of the five to shoot 68. Allem will undergo back surgery in December and said the quality of his game depends on his health. "If I wake up and I can touch my toes, I've got a chance," he said. Allem reached 5 under before making a bogey at No. 17.
Lehman expects more low scores before the tournament is over. The fairways and greens softened up after it rained earlier in the week, and many found the course easier than anticipated. “There are opportunities out there, and the guys out here are good and will take advantage," Lehman said.
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