PITTSBURGH (AP) – Bruce Vaughan shot a 6-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over Fred Funk in the Senior Players Championship, the third of five Champions Tour majors.
The 55-year-old Vaughan matched the lowest round of his career and tied the first-round record on Thursday. He won the 2008 Senior British Open for his lone Champions Tour title.
“I’ve been hitting the ball pretty good lately. The scores just haven’t been very good,’’ Vaughan said. “Today, it just kind of clicked.’’
Vaughan capped his bogey-free round with a birdie on the par-5 18th, holing an 8-foot putt after hitting his approach into a greenside bunker.
“It wasn’t looking very good, to be honest with you,’’ Vaughan said. “I just executed well and it came off just perfect. When you’re playing good, that’s the kind of stuff that happens.’’
Funk had four birdies and a bogey on the final six holes.
Fred Couples, the winner last year at Westchester Country Club in Harrison, New York, was two strokes back at Fox Chapel along with Tom Lehman, Michael Allen and Joe Daley.
Greg Norman opened with a 67 in his first Champions Tour event since 2009.
Couples fought back problems during the round.
“I feel lucky I got through this round with that score and then I have a lot of rest before tomorrow,” Couples said.
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