Stricker shares lead in Regions Tradition

Defending champion Steve Stricker birdied the final hole on Friday (SaturM day in Manila) for a 3-under 69 to move into a four-way tie for the lead halfway through the Regions TraditionN

Stricker joined Madison, WisM consin, neighbor Jerry Kelly, qualifier Alex Cejka and firstround leader Darren Clarke atop the leaderboard in the first of the Professional Golfers’ AssoM ciation (PGA) Tour Champions’ five majors.

Cejka, who made the field as the first alternate when Jay Haas withdrew, followed his openM ing 68 with a 69 at Greystone Golf and Country Club. Kelly had a 70, and Clarke shot 71 to get to 7 under.

“I’m just grateful for every start I get,” said Cejka, who was born in Czechoslovakia and grew up in Germany. “I know it’s tough. There’s only 80 guys every week in the field; so, many old great players who are priviM leged out here to play. And I got to prove myself. And if I have to go back to Monday qualifier or do a top 10 to get me in next week, I will do whatever [it] is necessary to do.”

Stricker had four birdies and a bogey. In 2019, he pulled away for a six-stroke win and his first senior major title. The event was canceled last year.

“I didn’t do anything dumb toM day; just hung around,” Stricker said.

“We’re only halfway home. So, we have a weekend to go. Someone’s going to probably bust out of this pack, I would imagine. The wind is supposed to switch directions for the weekend. So, that will shake thing up probably a little bit too,” Stricker added.

Cejka tied for second at the Chubb Classic after winning the Monday qualifier.

It was a huge turnaround from a rocky PGA Tour Champions debut in February when he closed with a 78 in Arizona.