Around the Green

Van Zandts and Lindbergs Lead Texas Father-Son

GALVESTON – Defending champions Mark and Andrew Lindberg teamed up to card an 8-under 64 Friday at the Texas Father-Son. They were joined at the top by Scott and Matthew Van Zandt who fired a bogey-free 64 in the first round at Moody Gardens Golf Course. The Lindbergs and Van Zandts hold a one-shot lead in the Championship Division. The father-son duos combined for 17 birdies in their opening round as they climbed to the top of the leaderboard on a wind-blown afternoon.

The Van Zandt duo, playing in their fourth Texas Father-Son, had little expectations for the weekend heading into the event. Scott, the “eternal optimist,” always hopes to take home the trophy at the end of the week, but they both simply enjoy the time together on the course.

“It’s really special for my Dad,” said former Texas A&M golfer Matthew Van Zandt. “I always joke and say this is his major. It’s fun to get out and compete together and have fun together.”

Matthew said finding fairways was key to conquering Moody Gardens. The strategy paid off during round one as he fired eight birdies alone – including four in a five-hole stretch to close the front nine.

The Lindberg team was more balanced as they navigated the bayous lining the paspalum grass golf course. Mark accounted for four birdies while his son Andrew added five of his own en route to their round of 64.

The Texas Father-Son has 78 teams which are divided into a Championship Division and four other flights — the Hogan, Nelson, Crenshaw and Kite. The Championship Division consists of 33 teams who play a gross score format – the actual number of strokes taken during the round. The Net Flights have teams whose gross scores are adjusted by subtracting 80 percent of their handicap (a system used to level competition in competitive golf) to calculate their score.

A four-ball format is used during the first two rounds, with the lowest score between the two players on each team being counted. During the final round, the Championship Division is cut into two separate flights. The top half of the division will play a combined-score format in the final round. The bottom half will continue with the four-ball format.

Jack and John Kennedy of Lufkin, Texas sit atop the Hogan Flight, firing 61 during the opening round. The two combined for 10 birdies during the round and have a two-stroke lead heading to round two.

The team of Darrell and Tim Bowe benefited from an early tee time and were able to score well in the favorable conditions. Tim was particularly successful as he had five birdies in round one. The pair is in the lead of the Nelson Flight after their 10-under 62.

The Crenshaw Flight is led by Hal and Peyton Cook after a bogey-free 61 leaves them at 11-under par. Peyton accounted for six birdies by himself as he shot 66 on his own ball.

David and David Cash, members at Moody Gardens Golf Course, lead the Kite Flight with a score of 15-under par following round one. David and David teamed up to card three natural birdies – each counting as eagles according to the handicap scoring system.

Round two of the Texas Father-Son begins at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. Click here for tee times, live scoring and more information.