Miguel Angel Jimenez, Steven Alker share lead in Calgary
Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain and Steven Alker of New Zealand are tied atop the leaderboard after one round of the Rogers Charity Classic on Friday in Calgary.
Jimenez and Alker each posted 7-under-par 63 at Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club. And it's fitting that they're ahead of the pack in Canada, as Jimenez and Alker entered the week Nos. 1 and 3 in the Charles Schwab Cup race, too.
There are seven events remaining in the PGA Tour Champions' regular season before the three-tournament playoffs commence, and Alker will try to apply pressure on Jimenez as they vie for positioning.
Jimenez posted a bogey-free round with four of his seven birdies on the back nine. He hit less than half the fairways in regulation (6 of 13) but went 5-for-5 scrambling.
He's won four tournaments this season, including one major, the Kaulig Companies Championship.
'It's experience,' Alker said of Jimenez, per the Calgary Herald. 'Miguel's won all over the world, and he's still winning now. So it just goes to show you he's in good shape. Miguel's always worked hard on his game and stayed in shape, and that's why he's doing well right now.'
For his part, Alker birdied five of his last eight holes to go low on Friday. His victory at the Cologuard Classic in March was his only win of the year.
They are one stroke ahead of Tommy Gainey and Shane Bertsch, who posted 64s. Gainey turned 50 on Wednesday and went bogey-free in the first round of his first PGA Tour Champions event.
Five players are tied for fifth at 5-under 65: Doug Barron, Tag Ridings, Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez, Australia's Richard Green and Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen.
The low Canadian Friday was Wes Martin, who shot a 3-under 67. Among other Canadians, Mike Weir posted an even-par 70 while Stephen Ames and Gordon Burns each struggled to a 1-over 71.
'We only get (to play in Canada) once a year on this tour, you know, so it's great,' Weir said before the tournament. 'Looking forward to great fan support on the weekend and I like this course. So hopefully I can get myself in the mix on Sunday.'
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CTV News
4 hours ago
- CTV News
Jimenez, Alker share lead after opening round at Rogers Charity Classic
Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez hits a tee shot on the eighth hole during the PGA Tour Champions golf event in Calgary, Alta., Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh Having already won four PGA Tour Champions events this season, Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez has put himself in great position for another potential victory. Jimenez and New Zealand's Steve Alker both carded rounds of 7-under 63 to sit atop the leaderboard after the first round of the 2025 Rogers Charity Classic on Friday. When asked what has led to his tremendous success this season, the 61-year-old Spaniard replied that he hasn't done anything special. 'I feel great on the golf course and that's it,' Jimenez said. 'I feel like a bull — strong like a bull.' Jimenez had seven birdies, including three in a four-hole span on the back nine at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club to take the lead by himself. 'I played very solid and I hope to continue the rest of the weekend,' said Jimenez, who has played at the senior-circuit event in Calgary seven times over the past decade. 'It's very nice people. It's a nice city. I enjoy it because I keep coming here. I like the golf course. 'When you feel confident in a place, you like to come because you make good scores.' Meanwhile, Alker rolled in birdie putts on his final two holes to pull into a tie with his rival. 'Always nice to be off to a great start,' said Alker, who finished sixth at last year's tournament. 'I've shot some low rounds here in the past, so just kind of had the momentum to keep going here.' Shane Bertsch and Tommy 'Two Gloves' Gainey are tied for third after shooting 6-under 64 on the opening day of the three-round tournament. After teeing off among the early groups, Bertsch birdied three of his final five holes to take the early clubhouse lead. 'Someone might pass 6 under by the end of the day, you never know,' said Bertsch, whose only previous PGA Tour Champions win was back in 2020 at the Charles Schwab Series at Bass Pro Shops Big Cedar Lodge. 'I'm starving, but it's hard out here. It's hard, but it's doable. You've just got to keep playing well. I'm just thinking about the first tee shot tomorrow and then trying to improve on a couple of things that I didn't do so well today.' One day before his 50th birthday, Gainey carded a round of 5-under 65 at Highwood Golf and Country Club on Tuesday in High River, Alta., to earn one of three spots into the event at the final tournament qualifier. 'I've been counting it down for the longest time,' Gainey said of his eager anticipation to play in his first Champions Tour event. 'It has been on countdown for about at least five years. 'It has been an awesome week to turn 50 and be out here with these legends (and to) get to play with Corey Pavin and Glen Day to start with. It was so much fun being out here with some of the guys I grew up idolizing, watching, and then (having) a chance to play with them.' Calgary's Wes Martin had four birdies and just one bogey to card a round of 3-under 67 to finish as the top Canadian in a five-way tie for 17th place. Wes Martin Calgary's Wes Martin qualified for the Rogers Charity Classic by shooting 62 Tuesday to win the qualifier. (Glenn Campbell, CTV Calgary) 'Today was pretty much almost a perfect day,' Martin said. 'I birdied four out of the first five holes, which is a total dream start. Honestly, it was all foggy. I was just swinging and it was going right where I wanted and the putts were falling. It was incredible.' Like Gainey, Martin only secured his spot in the tournament on Tuesday after shooting a sizzling 9-under 62 at Highwood Golf. 'It's just been a lot of work to get to this point,' said Martin, who admitted to tearing up before hitting his first tee shot of the day. 'You never know when it's going to happen. To hear the support and just the cheers and to hear your name like that … I couldn't help but to get emotional.' Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., shot an even-par round of 70 to finish in a nine-way tie for 48th place. Fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Stephen Ames and Gordon Burns of Holland Landing, Ont., finished one shot back of Weir at 1-over 71. --Laurence Heinen This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2025.
Ottawa Citizen
15 hours ago
- Ottawa Citizen
'Life's good today': Calgary's Wes Martin highlight of emotional start to Rogers Charity Classic
The qualifiers came to play for Friday's first day of the 2025 Rogers Charity Classic. Article content Calgary's Wes Martin and American Tommy Gainey didn't just show up to the PGA Tour Champions party with late invites. Article content They crashed it. Article content 'Dream come true,' said Martin, who opened with birdies on four of the first five holes and felt the support of family, friends and Calgarians in emotionally making his way around the 7,086-yard track at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club. Article content 'A total dream start,' continued the 52-year-old, of his 3-under 67 debut on the circuit for the world's best golfers age 50-plus. 'And honestly, it was all foggy. I was just swinging, and it was going right where I wanted, and the putts were falling. Article content Article content 'It was incredible.' Article content Even more incredible, score-wise, was Gainey's day — his first on the PGA Champions Tour after his 50th birthday made him eligible Wednesday. Article content 'Two Gloves' from South Carolina put together a 6-under-64 round. Only co-leaders Miguel Angel Jiménez and Steve Alker carded better scores with matching 7-under 63s through 18 holes. 'It has been an awesome week to turn 50 and be out here with these legends,' said an amped-up Gainey, who plays with two wet- weather black gloves no matter the conditions. 'I mean … this is fun. This is fun! Had a blast, played good, hit a few loose shots … but, you know what? It was so much fun being out here with some of the guys I grew up idolizing and watching. And then I have a chance to play with them? And it's been so many years now (waiting for this). Article content Article content 'I've been counting it down for the longest time. It has been on countdown for at least five years.' Article content Article content And as he crept into his 50s age-wise, the idea of taking a few shots at a golf tournaments kicked into his life again.
Calgary Herald
15 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
'Life's good today': Calgary's Wes Martin highlight of emotional start to Rogers Charity Classic
The qualifiers came to play for Friday's first day of the 2025 Rogers Charity Classic. Article content Calgary's Wes Martin and American Tommy Gainey didn't just show up to the PGA Tour Champions party with late invites. Article content They crashed it. Article content 'Dream come true,' said Martin, who opened with birdies on four of the first five holes and felt the support of family, friends and Calgarians in emotionally making his way around the 7,086-yard track at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club. Article content 'A total dream start,' continued the 52-year-old, of his 3-under 67 debut on the circuit for the world's best golfers age 50-plus. 'And honestly, it was all foggy. I was just swinging, and it was going right where I wanted, and the putts were falling. Article content Article content 'It was incredible.' Article content Even more incredible, score-wise, was Gainey's day — his first on the PGA Champions Tour after his 50th birthday made him eligible Wednesday. Article content 'Two Gloves' from South Carolina put together a 6-under-64 round. Only co-leaders Miguel Angel Jiménez and Steve Alker carded better scores with matching 7-under 63s through 18 holes. Article content 'It has been an awesome week to turn 50 and be out here with these legends,' said an amped-up Gainey, who plays with two wet- weather black gloves no matter the conditions. 'I mean … this is fun. This is fun! Had a blast, played good, hit a few loose shots … but, you know what? It was so much fun being out here with some of the guys I grew up idolizing and watching. And then I have a chance to play with them? And it's been so many years now (waiting for this). Article content Article content 'I've been counting it down for the longest time. It has been on countdown for at least five years.' Article content Article content After 12 years of grinding on the Canadian Tour, the Calgary native dropped his golf dreams for a career as a pipe-fitter. Article content And as he crept into his 50s age-wise, the idea of taking a few shots at a golf tournaments kicked into his life again.
