Texas duo leads after opening day at Champions Cup

The Texas team of Matt Cordell and Bryant Lach combined for a sizzling 6-under 65 to claim the first-round lead at the 52nd Champions Cup Invitational, played at the par-71 Cypress Creek Course at Champions Golf Club in Houston. Their seven-birdie, one-bogey round, played on a beautiful South Texas day, earned this duo a one-shot lead over three teams.

There were some recognizable names among the chasers. Brady Exber, the 2014 British Senior Amateur champion, and partner Kevin March posted five birdies and no bogeys, Ben Blundell & Jordan Cook birdied the last five holes, and Chad Brandt & Clay Fullick carded one eagle, one bogey and four birdies to all reach 5-under 66.

In all, 56 two-man mid-am teams from 27 states and four countries (including the U.S., Japan, Canada and Scotland) are competing in the prestigious national four-ball event. The average team score for Round 1 was 71.32, just slightly over the par of 71 on the Cypress Creek course.

Jack Burke, owner of Champions, advised that the Cypress Creek course is an extremely difficult test of golf and is truly testing all the players to their golf course management skills.

“Once the wind kicks up and starts swirling around the golf course, the golfers are really going to have to be precise with their shots or face severe consequences. And the large greens put a real premium on solid putting” said Burke, the 1956 Masters and PGA champion.