Parel grabs Champions lead with course-record 63
Scott Parel fired a 9-under 63 on Friday, equaling the course record, to take a two-shot lead after the first round at the Principal Charity Classic in Des Moines, Iowa.
Parel's bogey-free round at the Principal Charity Classic matched the Wakonda Club record set by Billy Andrade in 2016. Kirk Triplett set the tournament mark with a 62 on the Glen Oaks course in 2012.
Chris DiMarco is two shots back with an opening 65. DiMarco recorded nine birdies and two bogeys.
Andrade shot 66, carding seven birdies against one bogey. Seven golfers were at 67, including David Toms and Darren Clarke.
Parel hit 13 of 14 fairways, needing 23 total putts, en route to his lowest score since a 62 in the 2018 Shaw Charity Classic. He has two runner-up finishes so far this season and is No. 6 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings.
Despite winning twice on tour last year to go with a strong start in 2019, Parel understands not everyone knows his name.
"I've got no problem with nobody knowing who I am," Parel told the Des Moines Register. "This is called the PGA Tour of Champions for a reason. I mean, most of the guys on this Tour were champions on the PGA Tour.
"I'm just fortunate enough that they allow a few guys that show they can play when they're over 50 to be able to play with these guys. As long as I play good golf, that's all I care about."
The final holes yielded to the leaders Friday. DiMarco completed his round with birdies on six of the final seven holes, including a 60-foot putt on the par-3 17th. Andrade birdied on five of the last six.
--Field Level Media
