Irwin takes opening day honours

Hale Irwin shot a 7-under par 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Larry Ziegler and Bruce Fleisher in the first round of the Bruno's Memorial Classic on Friday.

Irwin recorded five birdies on the final nine holes and didn't have a bogey on the opening day of the Champions Tour event on the 6,992-yard, par-72 Founder's Course at the Greystone Golf Club.

"It's always great to birdie the last hole and come off the course with a good feeling," said Irwin, seeking his first win of the year. "One of my goals this week was to play bogey-free, or very few bogeys.

"Today was one of my best putting rounds all year."

Ziegler and Fleisher couldn't quite match Irwin's consistency. Ziegler had eight birdies but also bogeyed the par-4 third and 16th holes.

Fleisher, meanwhile, hit a 76-yard wedge shot on the par-5 No. 13 for eagle and got his fifth birdie on No. 18 after a bogey on the previous hole. He had been ill and only decided to play at the last minute.

"I got up this morning and made plans not to play," Fleisher said. "The flu started two days ago. I was real close to not playing."

Tom Jenkins and Morris Hatalsky were two strokes off the pace at 67 while four golfers were three shots behind Irwin.

Last year's winner, Sammy Rachels, struggled in his attempt to become the first repeat champion in the $1.4 million tournament's 12-year history. Rachels shot an even-par 72.

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