LI's Chris Gabriele has up-and-down first day at PGA Championship

Long Island’s Chris Gabriele officially is in the major championship books.

Gabriele, the 30-year-old Cold Spring Harbor native and Old Westbury Golf and Country Club head pro, shot a 7-over 77 on Thursday morning in the first round of the PGA Championship — his first career major round — at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

He teed off at 7:01 a.m., starting at the par-4 10th hole in a group with world No. 86 Taylor Pendrith (2-over 72) and world No. 132 William Mouw (4-over 74).

It was a roller-coaster start for Gabriele, who opened his round with a triple bogey after hitting his approach shot in the water. He made two double bogeys and three bogeys. But he did make three birdies, including the par-5 ninth, his closing hole.

Gabriele was extremely unlucky with his triple bogey. After taking a penalty drop, his fourth shot from 54 yards with a wedge struck the base of the pin and recoiled 68 feet from the hole, where he three-putted.

“I was pretty nervous, being thrown into that arena, to be honest,” Gabriele said. “But I hit a lot of solid shots, just had a few blips. I did make three birdies and made some good par putts.”

Gabriele, who was hired as the head pro at Old Westbury in March, qualified for the PGA Championship after finishing tied for 10th in last month’s PGA Professionals Championship at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon.

Gabriele, part of the Corebridge Financial Team of 20 PGA of America pros competing at Aronimink, told Newsday after qualifying that “it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Gabriele, Pendrith and Mouw are set to begin their second round at 12:26 p.m. Friday

By Ben Dickson

benjamin.dickson@newsday.com@bendickson__

Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.