Cabrera Takes Early Lead In 47th Arizona Senior Amateur Championship

The 47th Arizona Senior Amateur is underway at Tonto Verde Country Club's Peaks Course, and after the opening round, one of the host club's own has taken advantage of familiar territory.

Six members of Tonto Verde are competing this week, and home-course knowledge paid-off Monday for Joe Cabrera, who fired a 2-under-par round to lead the Senior Division heading into round two.

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For Cabrera, the commute couldn't have been much easier. Living on the eighth hole of the Peaks Course, he estimated it took just 90 seconds to get from his home to the practice green Monday morning.

Cabrera's familiarity with the course and a sharp driver helped keep him out of the rough which he believes is the Peaks' toughest challenge.

His front nine was nearly flawless, hitting every fairway and green. The highlight came on the par-4 ninth hole, where an eagle vaulted him to the top of the leaderboard.

"Usually I hit 3-wood (on No. 9), but I was hitting drives so well that I took the driver out," Cabrera said. "I only had 127 to the hole so I picked a wedge and I hit it good..."

Just how good, he didn't realize until he reached the green.

Unable to find his ball through the rangefinder from the fairway, Cabrera walked up expecting to search around the putting surface.

"I looked in the hole and it was in there," he said with a smile.

The hole-out eagle was one of only two recorded during Monday's opening round, joining Larry Payne's eagle on the 17th hole.

While pleased to see his name atop the leaderboard after 18 holes, Cabrera knows there is still plenty of golf to be played over the tournament's final two rounds.

"I know the course well. I've been here for seven years and I think if I can drive the ball well, I'll be right there."

In the Legends Division (age 65+), Marc Apps turned in the day's lowest round, posting a 4-under 68 to claim the early lead. Apps was the only player in the division to finish under par, rolling in seven birdies during an impressive opening round.

"I made everything I looked at," Apps joked after his round.

Despite the hot putter, Apps believes staying out of trouble will be the key to remaining in contention over the next two days.

"I hit one really bad shot today, it turned into a double bogey," Apps said. "This is the kind of golf course you have to keep it in play. That's usually my forte. I don't hit it real long but I can hit it straight so I've got to keep doing that for two more days."

The 47th Arizona Senior Amateur continues Tuesday morning with second-round play beginning at 7 a.m. The championship concludes Wednesday afternoon.