Australian David
Graham had eight birdies and an eagle in a 9-under 63 today and held a three-stroke
lead after the first round of the Raley's Gold Rush Classic.
Graham, a winner of two majors on the PGA Tour who is concluding his fourth season
on the Senior PGA Tour, eagled No. 8 at Serrano Country Club and then had four
birdies on the back nine.
Allen Doyle, a four-time winner this season who is third on the senior money list,
had birdies on six over the final 14 holes in a 66 that left him tied for second
with J.C. Snead.
Graham, who won the 1979 PGA Championship and the 1981 U.S. Open, concluded his
round with a birdie after hitting a pitching wedge within a foot.
Graham tied the tournament course record John Morgan set last year in the second
round.
"Fortunately,
the weather was nothing like it was forecast," said Graham, who hasn't won since
last early season when he beat Dave Stockton in a 10-hole playoff at the Royal
Caribbean Classic. "It was very, very calm. The forecast was for strong wind and
everyone was waiting for it."
Larry Mowry, 62, who announced after his round he will retire at the end of the
season, Leonard Thompson and former tournament winner Jim Colbert all had 67s.
"I come here knowing
that I can reach most of the par-5s in two and that plays into my game,'' said
Graham, who has finished in the top 10 three of the last four weeks. "I've been
playing well the last three or four months.''
Mowry, who will turn 63 next week and is playing this season via a medical exemption,
hasn't finished higher than a tie for 26th this season and has battled illness
and injuries for several seasons.
Defending champion Dana Quigley shot a 71.
Chi Chi Rodriguez, who was hospitalized with chest pains and underwent angioplasty
prior to the tournament last year, shot a 72.
DIVOTS:
Rocky Thompson, who turned 60 on Thursday, shot a 69 in his first round as a Super
Senior. He trails Mowry by two shots in the 36-hole event for players 60 and older
that concludes Saturday. ... Miller Barber, who earlier this season became the
only Senior PGA Tour player to compete in more than 500 career events, is playing
in his 518th senior tournament this week. ... Twenty-four of the field of 78 are
age 60 or older.
