Thorpe & Morgan share first day lead

Jim Thorpe, playing the Novell Utah Showdown for the first time, and Gil Morgan, the winner two years ago, shot 64s to share the first-round lead Friday.

Thorpe birdied the last two holes, sinking a 20-foot putt on the 18th green to briefly take the lead. About 30 minutes later, Morgan birdied No. 17 to join him at 8 under at Park Meadows Country Club.

Dana Quigley, who set a tournament record with a 62 in the second round last year, was one stroke behind, along with Jim Albus, Tom Wargo and Simon Hobday as the leaderboard filled with red numbers.

Bill Brask was at 7 under on the 18th hole when thunder and heavy rains suspended play with two groups remaining on the course. Four others, including Lee Trevino, were tied at 5 under.

Defending champion Dave Eichelberger shot a 73.

Last year, Park Meadows had the lowest stroke average on the Senior PGA Tour. Of 231 scores posted over three rounds, 152 were under par.

To make the event more challenging this year, the course was lengthened by about 160 yards to 7,327 yards. At Park City's 6,900-foot elevation, the ball flies farther because there's less oxygen to provide resistance.

Few players seemed to notice the difference Friday as big hitters took advantage. Thorpe and Morgan, in particular, have played well over the past few months and the course suited their games.

Thorpe, who has finished in the top 10 at eight of his last starts, hit short irons into most of the greens and carded a balanced round. He had four birdies on the front nine and four on the back.

Thorpe closed strong, hitting a sand wedge to 10 feet at the par-4 11th and a 5-iron to 6 feet on the par-3 12th. He then drained birdie putts each time.

Morgan, who tied for second two weeks ago at the Coldwell Banker Burnett Classic in Minnesota, has placed in the top five in seven of his last 12 events, reached 6 under at the turn but struggled on the back side.

He bogeyed the 12th and had trouble on the par-5 15th, saving par after blasting from a bunker.

Quigley had a run of five straight birdies, continuing his hot streak in Park City. Last year, he shot 62 and 64 on the weekend but lost to Eichelberger when a 3-foot putt lipped out on the first playoff hole.

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