Goin takes opening narrow advantage

Ted Goin got his game going at the first hole Friday and finished strongly to take the first-round lead in the SBC Senior Open.

Playing in the first group at Harborside International, a public course built on a landfill south of downtown, Goin birdied the first two and the final two holes during a bogey-free round of 6-under 66 for a one-stroke lead.

It is the first time the treeless course with high grass and numerous bunkers has hosted the tournament that was moved from suburban Kemper Lakes in an attempt to increase attendance.

Goin, searching for his win on the Senior PGA Tour, tied for seventh in the Royal Caribbean Classic this season, his only top-10 finish. He entered play 59th on the money list.

``You birdie the first two and it just helps your frame of mind,'' Goin said, predicting the scores will be even lower Saturday and Sunday after players adjust to the course and ``find out where the bad spots are.''

Goin hit two 3-woods on the par-5 18th and had a chance for eagle, but missed a 6-footer before settling for his sixth birdie.

The 66 was Goin's low round of the year in this his 17th event. He was tied for the first-round lead in the Senior PGA Championship last month but faltered and tied for 60th.

One shot back Friday on the 6,970-yard links-style course were three-time champion Hale Irwin, Roy Vucinich, Bob Eastwood and Tom Wargo. Seven other players were two strokes behind.

Irwin, who birdied three of the final four holes, is bidding to win the tournament on a third course. He was victorious when it was played at Stonebridge in Aurora and at Kemper Lakes in Long Grove.

Irwin, twice a winner on the senior tour this year and the leading money winner, switched to an old putter to make sure he didn't crouch too much in his stance.

``It was time for a different look. It was about 1 1/2 inches longer,'' Irwin said. ``It's one I used for several years.''

Irwin said he's not afraid to tinker with his game or use off-the-path training routines.

``When I'm home, I might go out and hit a few balls barefoot,'' Irwin said. ``It slows down my footwork. It makes me more in tune and I feel like one with the grass.''

Eastwood jumped out with three straight birdies and four on the first five holes, finishing with seven birdies.

``We only play one other links-style course and that's in Pensacola and I've played well there,'' Eastwood said.

Defending champion Dana Quigley all but played himself out of contention on the first hole with a triple-bogey 7. He finished with a 78.

From the fairway, Quigley hit his second shot left of the green and then followed with two poor chips.

``I had mud on my ball and I got it in the air and it went left and then I tried to get cute,'' Quigley said.

``I made a quick 7 and that changed my game plan. It knocked my feet out from under me.''

Orville Moody, at age 68, played in his 500th senior tour event, shooting a 70 for his low round of the year.

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