Goodes leads Insperity Championship

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - Mother Nature may have stole the show on Friday, but it was Mike Goodes who clawed his way to the top of the leaderboard after scrapping out a 3-under-par round of 69 on a blustery opening day at the 2013 Insperity Championship, presented by UnitedHealthcare on Friday.

With his lone bogey coming on the second hole, the 56-year-old Goodes carded four birdies including the difficult 16th and 17th holes, to post 69 for the first-round lead.

“We knew it was going to be a tough day. I hit most of the fairways and tons of greens. That is what you have to do on days like this,” said the Brown Summit, NC resident. “I didn’t have to struggle for pars and was fortunate to play the last three holes at 2-under par because no matter how you are playing it can all go bad in a hurry.”

Winds were gusting up to 30 miles/hour making it nothing short of a struggle on the 7,018-yard track for the top players in the game over 50 years old.

“Trust me – I’d like it to be 80 degrees and calm, but I’m a pretty good wind player. I knew if I’d put a decent round in it would mean more today,” said Goodes, who will take a one-shot lead into the second round Saturday over Gene Sauers.

Sauers turned the heat up on an unseasonably cold spring morning in Texas after carding four birdies on his opening nine holes, making the clubhouse turn at 32. The Savannah, Ga. resident dropped a shot on the par-4 11th, but battled back to 4-under par with another birdie on the par-5, 15th hole. With the wind on his back, Goodes hooked his wedge approach shot into the water on the 17th, which led to a double-bogey 6, and a round of 70.

“I’m hitting the ball okay, but I just made two bad shots today which cost me,” said Sauers. I was going great until 17. I would have taken anything under par today. I’m just glad to get it done.”

Five players – Michael Allen, Brian Henninger, Mark Brooks, Hal Sutton, and Mark Bucek, are two shots off the pace at 71.

The second round gets underway at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

Saturday’s second round will also feature the 3M Oil & Gas Greats of Golf Challenge, a three-man, four-team event utilizing an 18-hole scramble format. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player will defend their title and for the first time, World Golf Hall of Fame members Johnny Miller and Raymond Floyd will participate. They will be joined in the competition by Lee Trevino, Don January, Gene Littler, Tony Jacklin, David Graham, Charles Coody and David Stockton.

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness, volunteers and tournament staff will be wearing pink shirts Saturday at the Insperity Championship to support the cause and pink flags will be used on each of the holes. The tournament is again a partner with the Houston affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and fans coming to the tournament are encouraged to wear pink.

Shot of the Day: Tom Kite Aces 16th Hole
Tom Kite chalked up the second hole-in-one ever in the 10-year history of the Insperity Championship on Friday. The Texan holed a seven iron shot from 194 yards on the 16th hole. It was Kite’s first ace on the Champions Tour.

“It had been a rough day up to that point so it was nice to see it go in,” said Kite, who carded a round of 76. “I didn’t play very well, but I finally hit a good shot, and it was nice not to have to putt.”

J.L. Lewis scored the first-ever hole-in-one at the Champions Tour stop in The Woodlands last year on the same hole.

Quote of the Day
"If you introduce your child to the game of golf - you will automatically teach them some of the greatest values in life: honesty, integrity and sportsmanship."
…Raymond Floyd at the Player’s Dinner on Thursday

Ticket and Parking Information
The Insperity ChampionshipTM offers FREE grounds only admission courtesy of Insperity, The Woodlands Development Company, Woodforest National Bank and Hewlett-Packard. Parking and shuttle service from The Woodlands Waterway Square Parking Garage located at Lake Robbins Drive & Fountains Plaza, are also free.

Catch Insperity Championship Action on the Golf Channel
A tape delayed broadcast of the 2012 Insperity Championship can be viewed each evening of play on the Golf Channel at the following times:

Saturday, May 4 5:30-8:30 p.m. (tape delayed)
Sunday, May 5 6-8:30 p.m. (tape delayed)

Gate Give-Away
The first 1,000 spectators to enter through the main gate on Saturday and Sunday will receive a complementary gift item.

Saturday Tee times for the Greats of Golf Competition
12:10 p.m. Don January, Gene Littler, Charles Coody
12:20 p.m. Tony Jacklin, Dave Stockton, Johnny Miller
12:30 p.m. Lee Trevino, David Graham, Raymond Floyd
12:40 p.m. Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player

Bryan Naugle, the Executive Director of the Insperity Championship, was the recipient of the 2013 Dave Marr Award, awarded annually to honor individuals who exemplify all the traits Mr. Marr lived by – sportsmanship, honesty, character, integrity and a passion for the game of golf.

2013 Insperity Championship
The Woodlands CC
Second Round Groupings and Starting Times
Saturday, May 4
TEE #1
7:40
Duffy Waldorf Northridge, CA 84 84
Chie-Hsiang Lin Taipei City, Taiwan 85 85
Morris Hatalsky Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 89 89
7:50
Brad Faxon Barrington, RI 81 81
Joe Daley Scottsdale, AZ 81 81
Steve Pate Westlake Village, CA 82 82
8:00
Anders Forsbrand Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 80 80
John Jacobs Scottsdale, AZ 81 81
Larry Nelson Marietta, GA 81 81
8:10
Russ Cochran Paducah, KY 79 79
Scott Hoch Orlando, FL 80 80
David Frost West Palm Beach, FL 80 80
8:20
Bill Glasson Stillwater, OK 79 79
Andy Bean Lakeland, FL 79 79
Corey Pavin Dallas, TX 79 79
8:30
Gene Jones Orlando, FL 78 78
Robin Byrd Satellite Beach, FL 78 78
Bobby Wadkins Richmond, VA 79 79
8:40
Fuzzy Zoeller Floyds Knob, IN 78 78
Wayne Levi Naples, FL 78 78
Roger Chapman Ascot, England 78 78
8:50
Barry Lane Chiswick, England 77 77
Jim Thorpe Heathrow, FL 78 78
Dick Mast Forest, VA 78 78
9:00
Bernhard Langer Munich, Germany 77 77
Gil Morgan Edmond, OK 77 77
Mark McNulty Orlando, FL 77 77
9:10
Craig Stadler Evergreen, CO 77 77
John Harris Minneapolis, MN 77 77
Dana Quigley West Palm Beach, FL 77 77
9:20
Tom Kite Austin, TX 76 76
Curtis Strange Morehead City, NC 76 76
Dan Forsman Provo, UT 76 76
9:30
Sandy Lyle Perthshire, Scotland 76 76
Kirk Triplett Scottsdale, AZ 76 76
Mark Wiebe Denver, CO 76 76
9:40
Andrew Magee Paradise Valley, AZ 76 76
Tom Pernice Jr. Nashville, TN 76 76
Willie Wood Edmond, OK 76 76
9:50
Rod Spittle Columbus, OH 75 75
Tom Purtzer Scottsdale, AZ 76 76
Peter Jacobsen Bonita Springs, FL 76 76
10:00
Mark Calcavecchia Tequesta, FL 75 75
Fred Funk Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 75 75
David Eger Charlotte, NC 75 75
10:10
Scott Simpson San Diego, CA 75 75
Bart Bryant Winter Garden, FL 75 75
Jay Don Blake St. George, UT 75 75
10:20
Bob Gilder Corvallis, OR 74 74
Chien Soon Lu Taipei, Taiwan 75 75
Tom Jenkins Newport Beach, CA 75 75
10:30
Ben Crenshaw Austin, TX 74 74
D.A. Weibring Dallas, TX 74 74
Kenny Perry Franklin, KY 74 74
10:40
Jim Rutledge Victoria, BC 73 73
Jim Gallagher, Jr. Greenwood, MS 74 74
Tommy Armour III Las Colinas, TX 74 74
10:50
Mark O'Meara Houston, TX 73 73
Jay Haas Greenville, SC 73 73
John Cook Windermere, FL 73 73
11:00
Bob Tway Edmond, OK 73 73
Steve Elkington Sydney, Australia 73 73
Hale Irwin Paradise Valley, AZ 73 73
11:10
Mark Mouland Penarth, Wales 72 72
Blaine McCallister Jacksonville, FL 73 73
Peter Senior Queensland, Australia 73 73
11:20
Jeff Sluman Hinsdale, IL 72 72
Loren Roberts Memphis, TN 72 72
Esteban Toledo Mexicali, Mexico 72 72
11:30
Steve Lowery Birmingham, AL 72 72
Rocco Mediate Naples, FL 72 72
Gary Hallberg Castle Rock, CO 72 72
11:40
Mark Bucek Winter Springs, FL 71 71
Brad Bryant Lakeland, FL 72 72
Steve Jones Tempe, AZ 72 72
11:50
Mark Brooks Austin, TX 71 71
Hal Sutton Shreveport, LA 71 71
Michael Allen Scottsdale, AZ 71 71
12:00
Mike Goodes Reidsville, NC 69 69
Gene Sauers Savannah, GA 70 70
Brian Henninger Wilsonville, OR 71 71