Fran Quinn and Scott Dunlap will head into Saturday’s second round of the Dominion Energy Charity Classic sharing the lead at 5-under par 67.
Quinn finished his first day at the Country Club of Virginia with two bogeys offset by seven birdies, highlighted by a final-hole gain on par-5 18th.
“I really came out, I played solid all day and I had a lot of opportunities,” said Quinn, a former Massachusetts Amateur champion. “A couple hiccups. I hit it over the back of the green on 10 and missed about a five-footer for par. Then I missed about a six-footer for par on the par 3. Then hit a great shot into 15, had about eight feet and didn’t make that.
“So overall very happy with the putting, putted very well, left maybe a couple out there, but played solid, drove it really well.”
Dunlap, who has been battling a painful wrist injury, posted one less bogey than Quinn, but one less birdie as well – finishing with a single blemish against six gains.
“It will be great because then I’ll look forward to the last three weeks and not have pain that I don’t want to deal with because today was like the best in a long time,” said Dunlap, who will undergo surgery on his wrist following the three-event playoffs. “It actually made me realize that I’ve probably been tolerating a pain level for a long time now even though it’s gotten chronic, it’s hurt for a long time.”
A logjam of six players were one shot back at 4-under par, including Tim Petrovic, Stephen Ames, Woody Austin, Jay Haas, and Kent Jones.
The Dominion Energy’s defending champion Bernhard Langer – the current Charles Schwab points leader, was three back after a 2-under par 70.
2018 Dominion Energy Charity Classic
Round One: The Top 5
Pos-Player-To Par (Today)
1. Fran Quinn -5 (-5)
1. Scott Dunlap -5 (-5)
3. Tim Petrovic -4 (-4)
3. Stephen Ames -4 (-4)
3. Woody Austin -4 (-4)
3. Jay Haas -4 (-4)
3. Kent Jones -4 (-4)
