Loves Langers Lead Father-Son

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Davis Love III and his son, Dru, fired a 13-under-par 59 Saturday and shared the lead with defending champions Bernhard and Stefan Langer after the first round of the Del Webb Father/Son Challenge.

The Loves opened with 11 birdies and an eagle in Saturday’s scramble format at ChampionsGate Resort.

On his 13th birthday, Dru provided the two biggest highlights when he holed a 12-foot eagle putt at the par-5 eighth and chipped in for a birdie at the 18th.

Not bad for a kid whose nickname is an abbreviation for ‘Quadruple.’

‘I was a little frustrated on the first seven holes and felt much better after I made the eagle putt at number eight,’ Dru said. ‘I still get a little nervous at times.’

But his father is amazed at how comfortable the sons seem.

‘Our kids are used to this atmosphere because they’re around it so much,’ said the elder Love, who guided the duo to a ninth-place finish last year, just days after Dru’s 12th birthday.

‘It seemed like we had birdie chances every hole,’ he added.

The Langers also had an eagle at the eighth to go along with 11 birdies. Their one-shot win over Raymond and Robert Floyd last year changed Stefan’s outlook for this weekend.

‘I feel more comfortable out there knowing I won this event before,’ said the 16-year-old.

Still, the kids expect their fathers to pick them up when needed. That’s true up and down the leaderboard.

‘When I missed it seemed like my dad made the putt,’ Stefan said.

Vijay and Qass Singh are alone in third place at 12-under 60 after a round that included 10 birdies and an eagle at the par-4 15th. Qass, having played in the event four times, is becoming more aware of one of its benefits.

‘My friends are a little envious of me playing in this,’ he admitted.

Bob and David Charles, the 1998 champions, had an 11-under 61 and share fourth place with Bob and Kevin Tway.

Jack Nicklaus, who won with son Greg in 1999, shot a 10-under 62 Saturday with son Jackie and was tied for sixth place with Greg and Gregory Norman, Tom and David Kite and Johnny and John Miller II.

Curtis and Tom Strange and Larry and Drew Nelson were one shot further back at 64 alongside Arnold Palmer and his grandson, Sam Saunders.

Raymond Floyd, who has won five times with his sons, had a 65 with son Raymond Jr. They share 13th place with Hale and Steve Irwin, the 2003 winners, and Mark and Shaun O’Meara.

Craig and Chris Stadler (66); Billy and Bob Casper (68); and Lee and Daniel Trevino (70) round out the field.

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