Umbrella-toting fans line the 12th fairway at Rhode Island Country Club for the opening round of the CVS Caremark Charity Classic.

Journal photo / Mary Murphy

BARRINGTON — Billy Andrade is repaying a friend this week for 16 years of hospitality. It could turn out to be financially rewarding for both parties.

 When the CVS Caremark Charity Classic decided to invite more women to take part in its event at Rhode Island Country Club, Andrade knew who he wanted as his partner in the team-event.

 He has been friendly with Helen Alfredsson since the two played as a team in the old J.C. Penney Classic, a tournament that paired a PGA Tour player with an LPGA star. That event has been gone for more than a decade, but Andrade and Alfreddson have maintained their friendship.

 ``Every year around the time of the (PGA’s) Bay Hill tournament, I get a phone call from Billy,’’ related Alfredsson, who is from Sweden but now lives in Orlando, where Bay Hill is located. ``I look forward to it not because I’m playing, but because Billy is calling.’’

 ``I’ve stayed there like 16 years in a row,’’ Andrade related. ``The reason she’s here is because she’s a great friend. I wouldn’t have it any other way.’’

 Andrade and Alfredsson played well in the Penney -- they finished fourth the last year it was held.

 They fought through difficult, wet and windy conditions to record a 5-under 65 and earn the first-round lead in the 36-hole event. They have plenty of competition. Six of the other nine teams in the $1.5-million tourney are within two shots.

 No Rhode Islander has ever won the event, but Andrade is not the only one with a good chance in the 11th CVS.

 RICC’s Brett and Dana Quigley, who twice have been second (as has Andrade) had a 66. So did Cumberland’s Brad Adamonis and his partner, Brittany Lincicome. And so did the Ryder Cup team of Boo Weekley-Chad Campbell, and the duo of David Toms and Hall of Famer Nick Price.

 The scores were easily the highest they’ve been in tournament history because the day was so miserable. There was rain all day, at times fairly hard. What’s more, the wind was strong, blowing up to 20 knots. For a final touch, it blew in the wrong direction for RICC, from the north, rather than off the water as usual, making for a huge challenge for everyone.

 ``I don’t think I’ve ever seen Rhode Island Country Club play as hard as it did today. Well, maybe in the spring some time when I was in ninth grade,’’ Andrade said.

 ``The course plays 6,650 yards, but it was more like 7,300 yards today,’’ Price said. ``It can’t play a foot longer than it did today.’’

 Price was the day’s star, shooting a 29 on his own ball over the final nine (that’s six birdies). But Andrade and Alfredsson earned the lead because they teamed so well.

 ``We ham and egged it,’’ is the way both described it.

 Alfredsson, who is married to former NHL player Kent Nilsson, has won 18 times, 11 in Europe and seven on the LPGA Tour. Andrade said that after seeing her win twice in LPGA events in 2008, he decided to ask her to the CVS. The fact that the two are such good friends made playing easier, especially in the difficult conditions.

 ``It’s fun playing this way,’’ Alfredsson said. ``You don’t have to be on for every hole.’’

 Both she and Andrade had problems, but when they did the other was there to pick them up.

 ``We made a few par saves early and then got going,’’ Andrade said.

 They birdied 2, 6, 8, 11, 12 and 16, with no bogies. They did not let the conditions bother them.

 ``I just don’t worry about stuff like that,’’ Andrade said. ``We’re from Rhode Island. The weather can change every day.’’

 In other years, a 65 might have left a team in the middle of the pack. With the conditions on this day, it was enough to have the lead. Normally, birdies are the norm. This time, they were hard to come by. The team of Price and Toms had the wildest day.

 They went nine holes without a bird. In fact, they were at 1-over 37 on the front side. However they made six birds on the back side, all by Price, to pull within one stroke of the lead. text ignored

Price already has won this event twice, in 2001 with Mark Calcavecchia and 2006 with Tim Clark.

 The day included just one eagle, by Brett Quigley on the par-5 11th.

Tuesday's tee times:

9:00 -- Matt Kuchar-Laura Diaz; Peter Jacobsen-Natalie Gulbis

9:10 -- Zach Johnson-Nick Watney; Brad Faxon-Juli Inkster

9:20 -- Brad Adamonis-Brittany Lincicome; Davis Love III-Morgan Pressel

9:30 -- Brett Quigley-Dana Quigley; David Toms-Nick Price

9:40 -- Billy Andrade-Helen Alfreddson; Boo Weekley-Chad Campbell

pkenyon@projo.com