SUN CITY WEST, Ariz., March 5, 2016 – The leaderboard is jammed after the first round of the Walgreens Charity Classic with four players tied for the lead.
Arizonan Christa Johnson of Tucson, World Golf Hall of Famer Juli Inkster of Los Altos, Calif., Lisa Grimes of Alexandria, Minn., and Australian Wendy Doolan of Lakeland, Fla., all toured Grandview Golf Course at 4-under-par 68 today.
Grimes was the first to grab the clubhouse lead, setting the tone for her round with a 15-foot birdie on the first hole and another 15-foot putt to save par at No. 16. She finished the day bogey-free.
Johnson also scrambled to save par on the tricky par-5 eighth green. She chipped and held her breath as the ball sped toward the hole.
“I was wondering if I could even keep it on the green, but I did and I two-putted for par,” said Johnson. “It’s just one shot at a time.”
Inkster was solid with her driver all day and missed only one green in regulation, but said she struggled with her putting speed throughout the round.
“The course is in great shape, so no complaints there, but if I can give myself some chances, maybe a few more putts will go in,” said Inkster, heading into Sunday’s final round of the fifth annual event hoping to win her second Legends Tour title.
Doolan also praised the condition of the greens at Grandview, but said she hopes to make some birdies on Sunday.
“I hear there will be some wind tomorrow, so I look forward to that challenge of controlling my ball in the wind,” she added.
In addition, the event’s defending champion, Kris Tschetter is one shot back at 3-under 69. The player from Sioux Falls, S.D., saved par from a bunker at No. 18 to hold her position in the field.
Judy Dickinson of Tequesta, Fla., leads the Legends Honors Division by one shot over Shelley Hamlin of Laveen, Ariz. Dickinson carded a 3-under-par score of 69 in the division for players age 63 and over.
“On this course, you need to be patient,” said Dickinson. “The greens are firm, but they are putting really well.”
Dickinson also scored a timely birdie on the 15th hole in what is considered a real tester over a water hazard.
“If you par that hole, you’re kissing the ground,” Dickinson added, noting that her birdie there was “a confidence boost” for Sunday’s final round.
Here are Sunday’s final-round pairings for the Walgreens Charity Classic:
8:30 a.m. Nancy Scranton | Patti Rizzo
8:40 a.m. Hollis Stacy | Patty Sheehan
8:50 a.m. Amy Alcott | Jane Geddes
9 a.m. Becky Iverson | Cindy Rarick
9:10 a.m. Ellie Gibson | Laura Shanahan Rowe
9:20 a.m. Allison Finney | Laurie Rinker
9:30 a.m. Pat Hurst | Lori West
9:40 a.m. Lori Atsedes | Carin Koch
9:50 a.m. Betsy King | Lisa DePaulo
10 a.m. Donna Andrews | Lorie Kane
10:10 a.m. Barb Moxness | Michelle McGann
10:20 a.m. Jean Bartholomew | Jenny Lidback
10:30 a.m. Susie Berning (LHD) | Jane Blalock (LHD)
10:40 a.m. Sandra Palmer (LHD) | Sandra Haynie (LHD)
10:50 a.m. Donna Caponi (LHD) | Jan Stephenson (LHD)
11 a.m. Judy Dickinson (LHD) | Shelley Hamlin (LHD)
11:10 a.m. Liselotte Neumann | Anne Marie Palli
11:20 a.m. JoAnne Carner | Pat Bradley
11:30 a.m. Val Skinner | Barb Mucha
11:40 a.m. Nicole Jeray | Martha Nause
11:50 a.m. Alicia Dibos | Michele Redman
12 p.m. Cindy Figg-Currier | Kris Tschetter
12:10 p.m. Rosie Jones | Marilyn Lovander
12:20 p.m. Kathryn Young Robyn | Jane Crafter
12:30 p.m. Wendy Doolan | Juli Inkster
12:40 p.m. Lisa Grimes | Christa Johnson
* LHD is Legends Honors Division
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