The quartet are a shot ahead as they set the early pace in an international field that contains five major winners and eight former Ryder Cup players. Our leaders themselves hail from four different continents – North America, Australasia, Africa and Europe respectively.
Pavin, who played three Ryder Cups and captained the American team in 2010, had an eventful day with nine birdies, three bogeys and six pars in his round of -6. It had looked like he could have the outright lead but one of those dropped shots came at the 18th.
“I haven’t really played a tournament for over a month, so I was wasn’t sure what to expect, but I seemed to putt really well today,” said the 1995 US Open winner. “Nine birdies in a round is a lot, so I was pretty pleased with that. I had some good shots and I put myself in range that I could make some putts. I hit a lot of really clean, good putts that went right in the middle, so it was kind of nice. A little unexpected in a way, but I read the greens pretty well. I missed a couple coming down the stretch, but I was really pleased with everything I did today.”
Alker is fresh off clinching the Champions Tour’s season-long Charles Schwab Cup for the second time last week and he continued his excellent form by notching six red numbers in his last 10 holes at Punta Mita, including a birdie-birdie finish.
“It was a nice finish, let’s put it that way,” said the New Zealander. “There’s room off the tee if you drive it well, but approach play is key because you’ve got small pockets in the greens. If you can get some iron shots close and take advantage of the par-5s, that’s a big thing.”
2022 MCB Road to Mauritius number one James Kingston is running out of time to continue his streak of picking up a Legends Tour trophy in every season since 2021, but the South African had eight birdies to put himself right in the mix.
“I’m ecstatic,” he said. “I think it’s a great golf course. You’ve got to put the ball in play, but it depends on how you can shape your shots and try and hit them in the right spots and give yourself birdie opportunities out there. I did that today, and rolled the ball nicely, so that always helps, so I’m really pleased with my round.”
Rob Coles put together an extremely impressive bogey-free round. He picked up his maiden win at the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship earlier this year, and at 5th on the MCB Road to Mauritius he could still end the year as the Legends Tour number one with a couple of big results in the final two events of 2024.
“I wasn’t quite aware that I didn’t drop a shot, but I played okay and managed to scramble when I missed the green,” said the 52-year-old. “It’s the first time I’ve been to Mexico. It’s fantastic. I love it. The people have been so friendly, so I think everyone’s enjoying it. I know it’s a great place, but the people have really made it special as well.”
2010 BMW PGA champion Simon Khan is alone in 5th on -5. The Englishman started birdie-birdie and picked up further shots at the 9th, 11th and 16th as he kept a blemish off the card in another good start to an event for him as he hunts a maiden Legends Tour title.
There’s a lot of talent in the seven-way tie for 6th at -4, including major champions Angel Cabrera, Rich Beem and Shaun Micheel, senior major winner Alex Cejka, leading Mexicans Esteban Toledo and Alejandro Quiroz, and last year’s top man on the MCB Road to Mauritius and former Ryder Cup star, Peter Baker.
Eight players got their week underway with a 69, with three more Ryder Cuppers in the form of Phillip Price, Jarmo Sandelin and Jean van de Velde amongst them. Plus Andrew Marshall, who sits 10th on the Order of Merit and could be inspired by good friend Simon Griffiths’ maiden Legends Tour win at last week’s Farmfoods European Senior Masters hosted by Peter Baker.
MCB Road to Mauritius number one Adilson da Silva is tied-21st after an opening round of 70 that featured four birdies and two bogeys. The Brazilian could potentially secure the top spot on the season-long Order of Merit ahead of the MCB Tour Championship Mauritius with a top-three finish this week and other player’s finishes going his way.
Click here to see the full leaderboard and second round tee times, and to find out more about the WCM Mexico Senior Open at Punta Mita Golf Club, Nayarit, Mexico.
