Four share lead after 66's

Jim Colbert, the 1998 winner, shot a 6-under-par 66 today for a share of the first-round lead in the Transamerica Senior Golf Championship.

John Mahaffey, Hugh Baiocchi and Jesse Patino also opened with 66s on the Silverado Country Club course.

Larry Nelson, the winner of four of the Senior PGA Tour's last six events, is taking the week off. Only five of the tour's top-10 money-winners are playing this weekend.

Colbert, who has 19 senior victories, eagled the par-4 fourth hole and played a bogey-free round.

Patino, a third-year player who never played on the PGA Tour, birdied six of his first 11 holes.

Jim Thorpe, 10th on the money list, and Argentina's Vicente Fernandez opened with 67s.

Defending champion Bruce Fleisher and Allen Doyle topped a 12-player group at 68. Fleisher, the 1999 tour player of the year, birdied the final two holes.

Fleisher, who trails Nelson by less than $272,000 on the money list, could move close behind Nelson with a strong weekend. The tournament winner will receive $165,000.

Doyle, the runner-up last year, missed two potential birdie putts on the final four holes, removing his hat angrily after leaving a 10-footer short on the 16th hole.

Chi Chi Rodriguez and Gary McCord were three strokes back at 3 under. Arnold Palmer, who hasn't finished higher than 64th in 13 events this season, had five bogeys in a 74.

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