Richard Bland posted a 5-under 66 on Friday, setting the pace at the Senior PGA Championship in his senior major debut. Despite feeling he struggled on the greens of Harbor Shores, Bland’s solid performance put him at 12-under 130.
Bland, who secured his first European Tour title at 48 and later joined Saudi-funded LIV Golf, held a one-shot lead over Scott Dunlap after the morning wave. This lead seemed likely to stand as the 36-hole lead, especially with the second round delayed in the afternoon due to potentially dangerous weather.
Chris DiMarco carded a 65, putting him three shots behind Bland. Among those still playing, former British Open champion Stewart Cink was at 6 under with seven holes to play, including two par 5s and a short par 4.
Last year, Bland was exempt from playing in the Senior PGA Championship due to a category for players winning European Tour events in the previous five years, having won the British Masters at age 48 in 2021. However, a scheduling conflict with LIV Golf Bedminster prevented him from participating. With no conflict this year, Bland requested to use his exemption, and the PGA of America extended an invitation.
Bland’s driving accuracy has been a key asset, even as he waits for his putter to improve on the Jack Nicklaus-designed greens. He made his first bogey on the par-4 fourth after failing to get up-and-down but quickly regained momentum on the next hole.
“As I was hitting my tee shot — literally as I was starting my downswing — a fly came straight across the ball,” Bland said. “I saw it and I hit it in the left trap. For that hole, I would’ve been reaching that, especially with it being downwind and off the right. I could have probably hit maybe even iron into that hole today.” Instead, he had to lay up and then managed to get up-and-down from 130 yards for birdie.
“That was good to get the momentum back straight after the bogey on 4,” Bland added. “That was pretty important.”
Scott Dunlap, who won earlier this year on the PGA Tour Champions, was challenging Bland with seven birdies but lost a scoring opportunity with a bogey on the par-5 16th. He still posted a 65 and was content with his performance.
“That’s as good of golf as I’ve got,” Dunlap said. “Obviously, I won recently, so got a little bit of confidence, maybe figured a few things out. But my track record around here has been a little wanting, so I guess maybe I hadn’t used up any of good golf. It’s kind of all come out in these two rounds. See what we have left in the tank for the final two.”
Chris DiMarco’s round was highlighted by an eagle after holing out from a bunker on the par-5 10th.
Defending champion Steve Stricker, who had never played at Harbor Shores before, was 1 over for the round through 12 holes and eight shots behind Bland.
