Purtzer leads with opening 65

The man who many think has the "sweetest swing" on the Champions Tour, Tom Purtzer, fired a 7-under 65 on Friday to take the first-round lead at the the Bank of American Championship.

John Harris was in sole possession of second place after a bogey-free round of 66 that included a birdie on the 18th hole at Nashawtuc Country Club. Tom Kite, who was within a stroke of the lead here in 2001 before double-bogeying No. 17 after his tee shot hit an airborne bird, was among four in third place at 5 under.

Rocky Thompson, Mike McCullough, and Walter Hall also shot 67s.

Purtzer, who won the Toshiba Senior Classic earlier in the year, got untracked Friday with three straight birdies on the front nine, beginning on the third hole. He then dropped to 4 under with another birdie on No. 7 before making bogey on his last two holes.

Purtzer regained a stroke on No. 10 and then finished strong with four birdies in his last five holes. He made three straight birdies again, beginning at the 14th hole, and capped his lowest round of the tournament with a two-putt from 50 feet on the par-5 18th.

Dana Quigley, using a generic putter he practiced with on Thursday afternoon, shot a 68 with nine birdies and five bogeys to join a nine-way tie, four strokes off the lead.

"It was really a strange day," he said. "The nine birdies part was great. The five bogeys were untidy."

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