Hill & Quigley lead with 64's

Mike Hill is finding motivation in his advancing age.

``Trying to shoot your age every time you go play has got to be some kind of an inspiration,'' Hill said.

The 63-year-old Hill just missed becoming the youngest player to match his age in senior tour history Friday, shooting a 7-under 64 and sharing the lead Dana Quigley after one round in the Verizon Classic.

Hill birdied Nos. 5-9 and 11-12, but missed an 8-footer on No. 14. Gary Player holds the age record with a 64 in the 2000 BellSouth Senior Classic.

``When I made the birdie at 12, I felt I was close enough to get one more,'' Hill said.

Hill chipped 20 feet from the fringe on No. 8 to keep his birdie streak intact. His 5-foot birdie putt on the par-5 12th, after hitting out of a bunker to the right of the green, moved him into a tie with Quigley.

``I made some 10- and 12-footers,'' Hill said. ``When you can do that, your chances increase. I really only missed the one makable putt at 14.''

Quigley moved to 5 under after chipping within a foot at No. 12. Quigley made 4-foot birdie putts on the par-4 15th and 18th.

``I had a good string of putting on the front nine,'' said Quigley, who tied for fifth last week in the ACE Group Classic. ``I equate this to poker or casino gambling. When you're on a roll, you've got to go for it. I tried to make birdie on every hole.''

Quigley, who led the senior tour last year with 37 starts, is playing in his 156th consecutive tournament, a senior tour record.

Thirty-nine players in the field of 78 broke par in the warm, dry conditions on the 6,783-yard course at the Tournament Players Club of Tampa Bay.

Bruce Summerhays was one shot back at 65, and Tom Kite and Bruce Fleisher followed at 66. Hale Irwin, coming off his record 33rd senior title last week in Naples, opened with a 70.

After a bogey on No. 1, Summerhays, who qualified for the senior tour at the Tournament Players Club in 1994, birdied Nos. 5, 6, 7, 12 and 13 before making an eagle at the par-4 15th. Summerhays cut an 8-iron from 153 yards with his second shot on the 425-yard 15th, where the green is nestled against a lagoon.

``It was fantastic to make a 2 there,'' said Summerhays, winless since 1998. ``I've made 7 there. All of us have.''

Kite, who won the season-opening MasterCard Championship in Hawaii, holed four birdie putts under 12 feet, and made an eagle on the par-5 12th.

``I'm getting a putting stroke again,'' Kite said. ``I've struggled with that my first two years out here.''

Two-time Masters champion Ben Crenshaw, playing his second tournament on the senior tour, shot a 71.

``My timing and rhythm are not very good,'' Crenshaw said. ``It feels like my speeds are off. Either I swing too slow or too quick and I'm not playing with enough confidence.''

Arnold Palmer shot an 81.

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page