Article author:
Reuters
Jay Haas and Mark Hensby each shot 4 under 67 on Thursday to share the lead in the first round of the US Senior Open at the Socon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Haas is getting older at once in a major tournament. On Thursday, he was the seventh time he shot over his age at the PGA Tour Champions Circuit.
"I'm telling people that I'm still really passionate about playing games, and I think it helped me more than anything else," Haas said. "I still want to practice. I still want to play.
" It's great to shoot my age. It's certainly a great number at a USGA event, so it's a good goal to have. The ones from the 1960s are always really great. "
The oldest British Senior Open Champion in history was Allendoil, who won 57 at the 2006 event.
For 50-year-old Hensby from Australia, this is his first lead or co-lead after any round of five starts on the Champions Tour.
Co-leaders are one stroke ahead of Rocco Meediate, Tim Petrovic, Steve Stricker and Paul Broadhurst of England. Eleven golfers defeated Par on a day that endured a stable rain in the morning.
"But the golf course is in excellent condition overall," Hensby said. "If you play well, you can score."
Defending champion Jim Furyk fired an opening round 71, slowing his pace by four.
This event will take place in the Saucon Valley for the third time. Larry Laoretti won there in 1992 and Hale Irwin became the champion in the Socon Valley in 2000.
– Field-level media
