Doyle takes opening day honours

Sammy Rachels says he has an attitude problem, but it's nothing Ben Franklin can't fix.

Rachels began defense of his Napa Valley Championship on Friday with a 7-under-par 65, finishing the opening round just a stroke behind leader Allen Doyle.

Doyle posted his best score in over a year, a bogey-free 8-under-par 64 that has him a shot ahead of Rachels and Bruce Fleisher in the California vineyard.

Tom Kite and Kermit Zarley also took advantage of ideal scoring conditions, posting 6-under 66s. Jim Ahern is sixth after carding a 67, a stroke better than a group of nine players.

Seeking his fourth Senior Tour win and second this season, Rachels is in contention at Silverado Resort's South course for the second straight year, thanks in part to a new attitude.

"Working on my attitude all the time is pretty important," he said. "I adopted that from Ben Franklin's philosophy. I'm not negative - prepare for the worst, hope for the best."

Rachels was almost at his best, coming within a stroke of his lowest round this season. He had eight birdies, a handful of par saves and one bogey en route to his third straight round in the 60s on the South course.

"Nobody is more surprised than I am," he said.

Rachels' title here last year came in stunning fashion as he eagled the par-5 18th on Sunday to edge Raymond Floyd and Doug Tewell by a stroke. But he hasn't thought much of winning again.

"I try not to think about defending here," he said.

No player has ever defended a title at this event - formerly known as The Transamerica - since it began in 1989.

Doyle will try to hold on to his lead Saturday, after cruising around the South course in the opening round. He started and ended his day with a birdie and sprinkled in six others along the way.

"I had a flawless day, really," said Doyle, the 2001 Charles Schwab Cup champion who is winless in 29 starts this season. "Everything came pretty easily."

Doyle didn't miss a fairway and hit 15 greens in regulation. He had four straight birdies, beginning at the eighth hole, setting up four putts of five feet or fewer with solid iron play.

"If you hit it in the fairway, you've got short irons in," he said. "I'm a pretty good short-iron player."

Fleisher matched Rachels' 32 on the back nine, playing it bogey-free with birdies at the 10th, 12th-14th and 18th. He also had three straight on the front nine, getting off to that all-important good start.

"You've got to get out of the box to have a good week," said Fleisher, who is in search of his second win in a month.

Twenty-eight of the 78 players in the field broke par Friday, compared to six in the first round last year, when high winds and firm greens wreaked havoc on the course.

"The scores will be low," Fleisher said, "unless winds come up and temperatures cool."

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