Jenkins takes opening day honours

Maybe Tom Jenkins should get sick more often.

Despite battling the flu, Jenkins tied a course record with an 8-under-par 63 Friday and opened a two-shot lead over Ontario native Gar Hamilton after the first round of the Canada Senior Open at the Essex Golf & Country Club.

Seven players are tied for third at 4-under 67, including Bobby Wadkins and Mark Pfeil, the only players in the 77-man field to complete bogey-free rounds.

Jenkins, who won this tournament in 2000, matched the course mark set by Jerry Pate, who won the 1976 Canadian Open at this venue with a final-round 63. He had a chance to break the record but missed a birdie putt on the final hole.

Two years ago, Jenkins came within 10 minutes of withdrawing from the Canada Senior Open when he also came down with the flu.

"I'll try to stay sick and think about my sickness," Jenkins joked. "It's all mental. I've been in this position before."

Hamilton posted the best score ever by a Canadian in this tournament, bettering the 66s of Nick Weslock and Peter Jackson in 1981.

One of seven Canadians in the field, Hamilton has had little success at the Essex Golf and Country Club. He tied for 50th last year and tied for 76th in the Canadian Open 26 years ago. But Hamilton won the Canadian PGA Senior Championship last week.

"To come out and play that well, it's a confidence level," said Hamilton, whose round included four straight birdies beginning at the 12th hole. "I'm coming in playing well and today finished the round feeling like I can compete with these guys."

Jenkins has seven top-10 finishes in 19 starts this season and ranks 18th on the money list with $553,798 but has not won since capturing this event in 2000. Earlier this year, he tied for fifth at the Emerald Coast Classic and the Instinet Classic.

Playing in a threesome with Gary Player, Jenkins sank a four-foot birdie putt on the first hole, then made a 15-footer for eagle at the par-5 third to quickly get to 3-under.

"I got off to a great start but then almost gave it all back," Jenkins said.

The 54-year-old bogied two of the next three holes but reeled off three straight birdies from Nos. 7-9 to make the turn at 4-under. He ended the front side in style, draining a 40-footer that started a stretch in which he made three birdie putts of at least 25 feet in seven holes.

"Playing with Gary Player today gave me some inspiration," Jenkins said. "He's always great to play with."

After two-putting from 30 feet for birdie at the par-5 10th, Jenkins sank a six-footer for birdie at the par-3 12th. He continued to wield a hot putter, holing a 30-footer on No. 13 and a 25-footer on No. 15.

"I had zero expectations this week," Jenkins said. "I didn't even do my normal routine this morning. I've just been trying to get more rest."

The head pro at the Mississauga Golf and Country Club, Hamilton failed to get his Senior PGA Tour card last year after shooting a 76 in the final round of the qualifying tournament.

"I played the PGA Tour a long time ago," he said. "I made the cut here in 1976. My earnings are nothing to write home about. I'm thrilled to be here and represent Mississauga."

Hamilton started slowly, recording the first of two bogeys at the par-4 first hole. He stayed at 1-over until making consecutive birdie putts at Nos. 7 and 8.

Hamilton gave back a bogey at No. 10 by again hitting short on the par-4 11th hole, but he caught fire on the par-3 12th, holing a 25-footer to start his birdie streak.

"I really wasn't in trouble, except for the first hole," he said. "The putt on No. 7 really helped me."

Bill Kratzert carded a 3-under 69 in his first round on the Senior Tour. A four-time winner of the PGA Tour, Kratzert turned 50 on June 29 and received a sponsor's exemption into the tournament.

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