The Corebridge Financial Team made of PGA of America Golf Professionals brought their A-game to Harbor Shores.
Jeffrey Schmid, PGA, led the way at five-under par. The Brown Deer Golf Club teacher had six birdies and one lone bogey on his card at Harbor Shores Golf Club Thursday, with the Iowa PGA Section member only two strokes behind Richard Green’s lead.
“I try to be humble," Schmid said. "I think I could do a top 25. In the Senior Open a couple years ago I finished 33rd. Yeah, I don't know if I can win. I don't know. But I think I can play with these guys for the most part.
"Without being cocky. Be nice to shoot four 66s and see how it goes.”
WHAT A SHOT from Jason Caron, PGA! 💥#SrPGAChamp | @MetropolitanPGA pic.twitter.com/WfS1cI0kDN
— PGA of America (@PGA) May 23, 2024
Schmid drove four hours to get to Benton Harbor, aiming to make the cut. Schmid finished T-63 at Fields Ranch East last year.
Frank Espositio Jr., PGA, shot an impressive three-under 68. Espositio Jr., who teaches at Mountain Ridge Country Club from the New Jersey Section, started on the 10th hole and carded a clean four-under front nine.
Jason Caron, PGA, a Greenlawn, N.Y. resident, started on the back nine and birdied three of his first four holes to go out in three under for a two-under-par 69.
MORE: Meet the Corebridge Financial Team Competing in the 2024 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship
Bob Sowards, PGA, who won the 2023 Senior PGA Professional Championship, finished at even par. Jim Carter, PGA, from Scottsdale, Ariz., also carded a 71 Thursday. Mike Stone, PGA, who works at Belmont Country Club, joined Sowards and Carter as the trio to shoot even Thursday.
