Scott Parel uses hole-in-one to charge into lead at Furyk & Friends

Field Level Media|published: Fri 6th October, 18:22 2023

Scott Parel putts on the No. 7 green during the final round of the 2023 Kaulig Companies Championship at Firestone Country Club, Sunday, July 16, 2023, in Akron, Ohio. credits: Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK

Scott Parel knocked in a hole-in-one during an 8-under-par 64 on Friday to take a three-shot lead after one round of the Constellation Furyk & Friends in Jacksonville, Fla.

Parel, who started his round on the back nine, aced the par-3, 155-yard 17th hole at Timuquana Country Club. He was stuck at even par before the shot, and he parlayed that jolt of energy into six birdies over his next eight holes.

The 58-year-old tied the course record and established a comfortable lead over Jerry Kelly and Brett Quigley, who are tied for second at 5-under 67.

Parel used an 8-iron on his hole-in-one.

"I hit the ball well, which I've been hitting it pretty good for a while," Parel said. "Then got lucky and made a hole-in-one and that kind of got the momentum going, that got me to a couple under. Then I birdied 18 and got a really good break on 1, I hit a poor tee shot and it bounced out in the fairway, so it just seemed like it was my day today."

Parel has won four times on the PGA Tour Champions, but not since April of last year.

"I'm just going to try to play like I did today," Parel said of the weekend. "I don't expect to shoot another 8 under. I'll hopefully hit the ball in the fairway and have some birdie chances."

Kelly and Quigley each shot bogey-free rounds with five birdies apiece.

After three victories in 2022, Kelly is still searching for his first win of the season.

"I feel like my body's feeling better, I've got the right clubs in there now, I'm working on the right things to where now I can work on my mental side a little bit," Kelly said. "I still get quick to judge myself, but I was like, ‘Hey, you know, it's fine, you're hitting it good.' Then I go out and make up-and-downs."

Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain is part of a large tie for fourth at 4-under 68. Tournament host Jim Furyk shot a 1-under 71 that included a bogey, a double bogey and four birdies.

Defending champion Steve Stricker opened with an even-par 72. Stricker is the far-and-away leader in the Charles Schwab Cup money race.

—Field Level Media