Fleisher clear after opening 60

With 14 victories, Bruce Fleisher has enjoyed considerable success in his three-plus years on the Senior PGA Tour. But nothing like this.

The 53-year-old Fleisher matched the lowest round in Senior Tour history Friday, carding a 10-under-par 60 on the opening day of the RJR Championship.

Isao Aoki of Japan shot a 10-under 60 in the second round of the 1997 Emerald Coast Classic and Walter Morgan signed for an 11-under 60 in the second round of this year's Canada Senior Open.

Winless this year, Fleisher birdied 10 of the first 14 holes in a bogey-free round to open a three-stroke lead over Mike McCullough at Tanglewood Park Golf Course.

"It was a wonderful day today," Fleisher said. "It should happen again."

The round took on added significance for Fleisher because he grew up in nearby Wilmington, North Carolina.

"I started playing there as a kid," he said. "There's a lot of emotion when I play here."

Ted Goin and Hale Irwin are tied for third at 65 while 10 players are at 66, including Tom Kite, 2000 champion Larry Nelson and Jim Thorpe, this year's winner of The Tradition.

Fleisher, whose previous best round was a 63, had a chance to break 60 but missed 12-foot birdie putts on Nos. 15 and 16. He sank a two-footer for par on No. 17 and missed a birdie chip at the par-5 closing hole.

With four holes to play, Fleisher admitted he began thinking about shooting a 59.

"It was a consideration of mine, especially when I got to 15," he said. "It's hard not to think about it. It's hitting you right in the face. I was hoping to get my third shot at No. 18 to about five or six feet. It didn't happen."

The RJR Championship was canceled last year in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

United States lapel pins will be worn by the participants and U.S. pin flags were placed on all 18 greens.

Bob Gilder, who has won the last two Senior events and four of the past seven to move into second place in the Charles Schwab Cup race, carded a 69 and is tied for 34th.

The reigning Rookie of the Year, Gilder leads the Tour this season with four wins, twice going back-to-back. However, Irwin still leads by a commanding 649 points with six events remaining on the schedule.

The difference between Irwin and Gilder can be traced to top-10 finishes - Irwin has 19 in 22 events while Gilder has 13 in 28 starts.

Irwin holds the tournament record of 19-under 195, a mark that could be in jeopardy.

"We've seen perfect scoring conditions the last two days," Irwin said. "It was there for the taking today. You knew today scores were going to be low when I saw Bruce's score."

Fleisher displayed a remarkable touch around the green throughout his round, making seven birdie putts of six feet or less. He nearly aced the par-3 eighth hole with a 6-iron, then left a 9-iron 18 inches short of the pin on the par-4 14th.

Fleisher started his round with three consecutive birdies, sinking putts of six, two and five feet. He reeled off another string of three straight birdies from Nos. 6-8 to make the turn at 6-under 29.

Fleisher birdied four of the first five holes on the back to get to 10-under.

"Watch out when Bruce starts playing well," said McCullough, who birdied the final four holes and climbed into contention with a 6-under 29 on the back.

McCullough made just one birdie on the front, an eight-footer on the par-3 third hole, but had seven on the back. His only bogey came at the par-4 14th, where he missed a two-foot par putt.

"The beginning of my round started at No. 7," he said. "I made a 20-footer for par. That really gave me confidence."

Irwin started out like he could challenge Fleisher for the low round of the day, birdying four of the first six holes, including three straight from Nos. 2-4. But he birdied only one of the last 12, making a five-footer on the par-3 13th.

"A better start than my usual Friday rounds," he said. "I feel like I left a few out there. I got out of the box quickly with three quick birdies. I really didn't threaten after No. 6 until No. 13."

The par-70 course measures 6,600 yards. First prize is $240,000.

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