University of Hartford Alumnus Tied for Travelers Championship Lead

CROMWELL, CT — In a little more than three months, Jerry Kelly will celebrate his 50th birthday, enabling him to start playing on the PGA Champions Tour. However, he demonstrated Thursday that he can still swing with the young guns on the regular tour.

The University of Hartford alumnus fired an opening-round 64 at the Travelers Championship, putting him in a three-way tie for the lead with Vaughn Taylor and Andrew Loupe.

Starting on the back nine, Kelly birdied 11 and 14 before driving the green on the 296-yard 15th and draining a 45-foot putt for eagle.

He hiccupped momentarily with a bogey on 16, but recovered to birdie 18 to finish the back side at 4-under 31. On the front nine, he birdied 5 by making a 35-foot putt, then closed his round with a 14-foot birdie putt on 9.

He will start on the first tee Friday at 7:10 a.m.

2012 Travelers champion Marc Leishman was among three players a stroke behind the leaders at 5-under par 65.

Defending champion Bubba Watson, a two-time winner in Cromwell and two-time Masters champion, opened with a 3-under 67, as did four previous major winners: David Toms, Vijay Singh, Keegan Bradley and Zach Johnson.

Other major winners were:

• Louis Oosthuizen, 68 (-2)
• Justin Leonard and Retief Goosen, 69 (-1)
• Angel Cabrera, Padraig Harrington and Webb Simpson, 70 (even)
• Ernie Els and Geoff Ogilvy, 72 (+2)
• Jim Furyk, 73 (+3)

In addition to Watson, past Travelers champions shot:

• Hunter Mahan, 68 (-2)
• Freddie Jacobson, 69 (-1)
• J.J. Henry and Kevin Streelman, 71 (+1)
• Ken Duke, 73 (+3)

Following Kelly and Henry, the remainder of the Connecticut contingent was:

• Tim Petrovic, 71 (+1)
• Brett Stegmaier, 72 (+2)
• Adam Rainaud, 73 (+3)

At the conclusion of Friday's second round, the field will be cut to the low 70 scorers, plus ties.

For the complete leaderboard, click here. For Friday's starting times, click here.

Photo credit: pga.com