PGA Tour Champions rookie Vaughn Taylor birdied his final four holes to shoot a 9-under 63 and take the first-round lead at The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren.

Taylor completed his round with successive birdies at Nos. 6 through 9 at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club, moving one stroke ahead of John Rollins. Pádraig Harrington is third after opening with a 65.

The 50-year-old Taylor went out in 32 and came home in 31, recording his lowest score in 43 individual stroke-play rounds on PGA Tour Champions. His previous best was a 65 in the final round of the Rogers Charity Classic.

It is also the first time Taylor has led or shared the lead after an opening round on the senior circuit. His previous best position through 18 holes was a tie for third at the Principal Charity Classic, where he eventually finished tied for 12th.

Taylor Builds on Recent Form

Taylor turned 50 on March 9 and is making his 14th PGA Tour Champions start. He entered the week 39th in the Charles Schwab Cup standings, with both of his top-10 finishes coming across his previous three tournaments.

He tied for seventh at the Portugal Invitational before finishing tied for 19th at the Boeing Classic. Taylor then placed tied for ninth at the Rogers Charity Classic.

At the Boeing Classic, Taylor began the final round one behind Steven Alker after matching the leader’s second-round 68. His opening 63 at Warwick Hills puts him in contention for his first senior victory.

Taylor won three times in 459 PGA Tour starts, taking consecutive Reno-Tahoe Open titles in 2004 and 2005. He later won the 2016 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and also collected one Korn Ferry Tour title.

Taylor made four Buick Open appearances at Warwick Hills, finishing tied for fourth in 2006 and tied for eighth in 2009.

Vaughn Taylor is on fire in Grand Blanc!

The 9th birdie of the day for the solo leader @AllyChallenge 😱 pic.twitter.com/S9aHtLHeht

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) August 28, 2026

Rollins and Harrington Lead the Chase

Rollins hit all 18 greens in regulation during a bogey-free 64. The 51-year-old is seeking his first PGA Tour Champions victory in his 19th start, having recorded a best finish of tied for 11th at the 2026 US Senior Open.

Harrington, three days short of his 55th birthday, carded a 7-under 65. It was his lowest score in 10 rounds at The Ally Challenge. The Irishman is pursuing his 13th senior title after defending the US Senior Open in July.

Two-time defending champion and Charles Schwab Cup leader Stewart Cink opened with a bogey-free 67 to sit tied for seventh. Cink arrived after winning the Boeing Classic in a playoff, his fifth victory of 2026.

Henrik Stenson recovered from playing his first 11 holes in 1-over, covering the final seven in 5-under for a 68 on his debut as a PGA Tour Champions member. Ernie Els withdrew before the round and was replaced by David Bransdon, who finished the day tied for 38th.

"18 greens, I don't know the last time I've done that."

John Rollins hit all 18 greens in regulation en route to bogey-free 64 @AllyChallenge.

The 51-year-old has a best finish of T11 so far this season on PGA TOUR Champions but currently sits solo second in Grand Blanc. pic.twitter.com/vX9RUKPuid

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) August 28, 2026

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The Cornish resort is celebrating its anniversary with tournaments, commemorative course flags and limited-edition memberships.

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