Eichelberger and Vucinich lead with 66's

Dave Eichelberger and Roy Vucinich shot 5-under-par 66s today to share the first-round lead in the Toshiba Senior Classic.

"I hit some good shots," Eichelberger said. "But the main thing was the putter. I think I had 23 or 24 putts. That's what made the difference."

Eichelberger, the defending U.S. Senior Open champion, had six birdies and a single bogey.

"I missed the green and couldn't get it up and down," he said of the bogey on the par-3 13th hole. "I've putted well this year and I've been in a position to win.

"I don't really have a strategy or goal each day. I just try to hit it as hard as I can on the first tee and then shoot as low as I can."

Larry Nelson and Howard Twitty opened with 67s on the Newport Beach Country Club course. Defending champion Gary McCord and 1995 winner George Archer topped an eight-player group at 69.

Bruce Fleisher, a two-time winner this year, shot a 71.

Vucinich, a rookie on the 50-and-over tour, had five birdies in his bogey-free round, including a 30-foot birdie putt on the 18th to tie Eichelberger.

"Five-under was a little more than I was expecting today. I just wanted to get off to a decent start," said Vucinich, who saved par on the fifth and sixth holes.

"Those two holes were the only times I was in any kind of trouble out there. I knew that putt on 18 was a tie for the lead. I knew it meant I would be paired with Eichelberger and Nelson tomorrow and I look forward to it.

"In my young career, it is going to be a good opportunity. Tomorrow is going to be an entirely new experience for me. And hope I can learn from the experience."

Nelson was 4-under after four holes, including an eagle at the par-5, 549-yard third. He watched playing partners Arnold Palmer (79) and Lanny Wadkins (78) have trouble with the course.

Nelson has only one top-10 finish this year, a 10th-place tie in the season-opening Mastercard Championship.

"The start of this year has not been like it's been in previous years," Nelson said, "but I've found some things in my swing and with my putter that has helped."

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