Levi leads after record round

Wayne Levi tied a tournament record with an 8-under 64 and held a one-shot lead over Rodger Davis after the first round of the Constellation Energy Classic on Friday.

Joe Inman and Eduardo Romero had 67s at the 7,060-yard Hayfields Country Club course and were one shot in front of a group of 11 that included Hale Irwin, Tom Kite, and Tom Watson.

Levi had eight birdies, included three straight starting at No. 5, as he matched his best round on the Champions Tour.

"It felt like the old days when I was out on the regular tour shooting low," said Levi, a 12-time winner on the PGA tour. "I've been playing well the last few weeks. Today it kind of fell all together. I used to shoot a lot of these rounds out on the regular tour."

Levi tied the course record set by Jose Maria Canizares in 2000 and matched by J.C. Snead in 2002. The 52-year-old Levi said he thinks he'll need two more stellar rounds to stay in contention.

Levi said 15 under might be the score that nets the $240,000 first prize. Recent rain made the course a little soggy and turned the big greens soft.

"You've got to hit real precise irons to get good enough opportunities to make the putt," he said. "That's what I've done. No laying back, you can't do that and win a whole lot of money here. You've got to fire it in there, not make any bogeys."

Davis shot 31 on the back nine and birdied four of the final six holes to match his best round of the season at the par-70 Blue Angels Classic in April.

Defending champion Larry Nelson finished 2 over.

Dave Eichelberger had a hole-in-one on the 169-yard 7th with a 7-iron, the second ace in tournament history. He had a 70.

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