Archer leads with opening 64

George Archer sank an eagle and three birdies on the back nine Friday to shoot a 7-under 64 and take the opening-round lead in the Senior PGA's SBC Championship.

Vicente Fernandez, who made five birdies and an eagle in a seven-hole stretch, bogeyed his final two holes to fall two strokes back at 66, one shot ahead of Rodger Davis.

Archer's round was his lowest in 23 events this year, and it was one stroke higher than the tournament record of 63, last accomplished by defending champion Larry Nelson in his final round in 2001.

Dana Quigley and John Bland joined three others at 68 on a day of intermittent rain at the Oak Hills Country Club.

The tournament moved to the 6,661-yard Oak Hills course this year after spending its first 17 years at The Dominion Country Club, north of San Antonio.

Archer, who last won on the Senior Tour in 2000, shot a 2-under 33 on the front nine before making a 10-foot eagle putt on the 10th, a narrow 513-yard, par-5 hole with a double dogleg.

He followed with birdies on Nos. 11, 12 and 15 to get to 7-under.

Fernandez, who withdrew from last week's Napa Valley Championship, parred his first three holes before making his first birdie on the par-4 4th.

Playing in the same threesome with Archer, the Argentine golfer followed with birdies on four of the next five holes to make the turn at 30 and then eagled the 10th by hitting a 3-wood to within 4 feet of the pin.

After that, Fernandez, who last won on the Senior Tour in 1999, made six straight pars before ending his round with a pair of bogeys.

Davis was at par after five holes before he made five straight birdies. He bogeyed the par-4 14th, but got the stroke back two holes later before bogeying No. 17 to finish at 67.

Tom Watson and Bruce Fleisher were among a group at 69, while Nelson, Tom Kite and Ben Crenshaw shot 70.

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