Calgary, AB (SportsNetwork.com) - Tom Pernice, Jr. and Bart Bryant both opened with 8-under 62s on Friday to gain a share of the lead after one round of the Shaw Charity Classic.
Pernice tied for fifth place at this event last year and he collected his second tour win earlier this year. Bryant is searching for his second tour victory to go with his title at the 2013 Dick's Sporting Goods Open.
The pair matched the course record at Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club. Bill Glasson set that mark last year in the first year of the tournament.
David Frost is alone in third place at minus-7, while Joe Durant and Joe Daley are one stroke further back at 6-under 64.
Michael Allen, who shared fifth place last year with Pernice, carded a 65 on Friday. He was joined in sixth place by Woody Austin, Steve Elkington, Mark McNulty and Craig Stadler.
Kevin Sutherland, who fired the first 59 in tour history two weeks ago, stands at 4-under 66. He was one of 11 players that were four strokes off the lead.
Pernice flew out of the gate with five consecutive birdies from the 10th to soar up the leaderboard. In that run, Pernice had a 12-foot eagle putt on the 11th, but 2-putted for birdie.
"Obviously, the swing's feeling pretty good and the ball's kind of going where you want it to and the key is you're able to capitalize and make some putts," Pernice said of his early birdie run. "I just tried to stay calm and relaxed and just keep going, put the pedal down and just keep going. I had good control of the golf ball, drove the ball in play quite well especially the first nine holes."
He traded a bogey for a birdie from the 17th to make the turn at 5-under. The Principal Charity Classic winner birdied the second and fourth to move into the lead minus-7.
After a pair of pars, Pernice wrapped birdies at the seventh and ninth around a bogey on the par-4 eighth.
"I just tried to stay relaxed really, tried not to get too excited knowing that you've got pretty good control of your golf swing and the putting stroke feels pretty good and just kind of let it happen," admitted Pernice.
Bryant started with a birdie on the first. He followed with his only bogey of the day on No. 2. After a birdie on the third, Bryant birdied the sixth and eighth en route to making the turn at minus-3.
The 51-year-old converted back-to-back birdie efforts at 11 and 12. Bryant birdied the 14th and made it two in a row as he also birdied the par-4 15th. Bryant grabbed a share of the lead as he birdied the par-5 18th.
"Well, I did everything pretty well today, drove the ball in the fairway for the most part, which is important here. Obviously putted well. Anytime you shoot 7- or 8-under, you've had a good day with the putter and hit some close iron shots," said Bryant. "I just did everything solid. I had a couple of nice bounces out there as well that helped me, but overall it was just a very consistent solid day."
NOTES: Pernice matched his career low on the Champions Tour ... Bryant was one stroke off the lead after the opening round last year ... Jeff Sluman made his 97th consecutive Champions Tour start ... Defending champion Rocco Mediate opened with a 2-under 70 and is tied for 34th.