Birthday boy Langer shoots his age, co-leads The Ally Challenge

[August 28, 2021]  Friday was a dark and rainy day at The Ally Challenge, but the sun certainly was shining on Bernhard Langer.

The 64-year-old shot his age for the first time in his career -- on his birthday, no less -- and was tied for the lead when first-round play was halted in Grand Blanc, Mich.

Play began four hours, 45 minutes later than initially scheduled due to severe weather and was suspended due to darkness at 8:34 p.m. ET.

Langer made his lone bogey on the ninth hole and then responded with birdies on six of the next eight holes. He and co-leader Marco Dawson each finished at 64, marking the lowest first-round scores in the history of this event.

This is the fourth career appearance at The Ally Challenge for Langer, who has posted top-10 finishes here in each of the previous three years. He has played 13 career rounds at The Ally Challenge and has broken par all 13 times.

Langer is seeking his 43rd career win on PGA Tour Champions and his first since capturing the 2020 Cologuard Classic.

Meanwhile, Dawson played his first bogey-free round since the 2017 Mitsubishi Electric Championship and finds himself leading or co-leading after the first round of an event for the first time since the 2019 Rapiscan Systems Classic.

Defending champion Jim Furyk, Joe Durant and K.J. Choi all sit one shot off the pace.

Saturday's action will begin with the conclusion of the first round at 7:30 a.m. Thirty-six players need to finish their opening round. Second-round tee times will begin around 10 a.m. with players staggering their starts on holes Nos. 1 and 10.

--Field Level Media

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