Ebihara takes lead on short first day

Japan's Seiji Ebihara shot a 4-under-par 68 today to take the lead during the suspended first round of the PGA Seniors' Championship.

Fifty-two players were unable to complete the round because of darkness after the threat of lightning interrupted play twice for a total of 2 hours, 57 minutes. When play resumed, there was a steady drizzle for much of the rest of the afternoon.

Doug Tewell, playing his first full season on the Senior PGA Tour, was 4-under through 15 holes on PGA National's Champion course.

Hubert Green, the 1977 U.S. Open winner and 1985 PGA champion, was a stroke back along with Gibby Gilbert and Dana Quigley.

Ireland's Christy O'Connor Jr., was 3-under through 12.

Hale Irwin, seeking his fourth victory in the tournament in five years, and Larry Nelson, the 1987 PGA winner at PGA National, topped a six-player group at 70.

Defending champion Allen Doyle was still on the course when darkness halted play. He was 1-under through 12 holes.

Tom Watson and Lee Trevino shot 72s, Lanny Wadkins and Gary Player shot 75s, and Bruce Fleisher had a 77.

When 36 holes are completed, likely Saturday morning, the field will be cut to the low 70 and ties.

Ebihara, 51, a regular on the Japan's Senior PGA Tour playing only his third event in the United States, was invited to play in the tournament by the PGA of America.

"I would like to play some more tournaments," Ebihara said through an interpreter. "If not, I will go back to Japan next week. I want to thank the PGA of America for inviting me. I got here Sunday, played three practice rounds and I never expected to shoot under par. This is a very difficult golf course."

Ebihara had three birdies and a bogey on each nine. One bogey came at the par-4 8th when he missed the green with his second shot, his first stroke after the initial rain delay.

When he returned to the course the second time, he sank a putt of about 6 feet to save par at No. 12. He holed a 25-foot chip from behind the 16th green for his final birdie.

Green and Gilbert played bogey-free golf with three birdies. Quigley, playing for the 87th consecutive week and the 100th straight tournament in which he has been eligible, made four birdies and a bogey, all on the back nine.

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