James Hardie Pro Football HOF Invitational Round 1

Ricardo Gonzalez claimed the early advantage in Boca Raton, carding a brilliant 6-under-par 66 to take a one-stroke lead after the opening round. The 56-year-old Argentine, seeking his second PGA TOUR Champions title, ignited his round with an eagle and maintained his momentum throughout the afternoon.

Gonzalez’s performance was a masterclass in course management, as he effectively avoided the penalizing bunkers that guard the par-5s to set the early pace at 6-under. The leaderboard remains extremely competitive behind the leader.

Stewart Cink sits in solo second at 5-under-par 67, following a steady round that featured six birdies and only one blemish. A group of seasoned pros, including Steve Allan and George McNeill, are just two strokes back at 4-under, while world No.

1 senior Steven Alker remains well in the mix after a solid opening effort. Defending champion Angel Cabrera struggled to find his rhythm in the humid conditions, carding a 6-over-par 78, leaving him with a significant hill to climb to reach the weekend contention.