Sigel and Eger share opening day lead

Former amateur stars Jay Sigel and David Eger shot 5-under-par 67s on Friday to share the first-round lead in the Farmers Charity Classic.

John Jacobs, No. 2 on the Senior PGA Tour money list, opened with a 68, and two-time defending champion Larry Nelson topped a nine-player group at 69 on the Egypt Valley Country Club course.

The 58-year-old Sigel birdied four of the first eight holes and added birdies at Nos. 12 and 13 before dropping a stroke on No. 16 with his lone bogey. The 67 is his best opening round since August.

``I'm delighted with my round,'' said Sigel, a two-time U.S. Amateur champion. ``I've been playing well, better than I've been scoring. I probably came out with too high expectations this year. I might have tried too hard at times.''

Eger, a former PGA and U.S. Golf Association official playing his third senior tour event since turning 50 in March, shot his first sub-par round of the year.

``Things fell in place in the middle of the round with three straight birdies,'' Eger said. ``If I can do that, it kind of gets me going.''

Jacobs birdied Nos. 2, 3 and 4 and followed with eight consecutive pars before his only bogey. Nelson made the turn at even-par 36 and had three birdies on the back nine.

``This course is one of the finest we play,'' Jacobs said.

Sigel's best finish this year was a tie for 15th last week in the Instinet Classic. He missed the first five months of the 2001 season after rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders.

Senior tour rookie Fuzzy Zoeller opened with an 84 in the 54-hole tournament, which pays $225,000 to the winner.

J.C. Snead was disqualified for missing his starting time. He left to attend funeral services in Hot Springs, Va., for his uncle, golfing great Sam Snead, who died Thursday at age 89.

Several players and caddies wore black ribbons Friday in honor of Sam Snead.

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