Jay Sigel finished with a flourish today for a 67 to earn a share of the first-round lead with Kermit Zarley and Bob Dickson in the Home Depot Invitational.

Sigel, third in the tournament last year, was only 1-under through 15. He eagled the par-5 16th hole and birdied Nos. 17 and 18 to finish at 5-under.

"I was a little grumpy coming into the 16th," Sigel said. "I had played a lot better than I'd scored. It's funny how things can turn around in a half-hour."

At 68 were J.C. Snead, Terry Dill, Bruce Summerhays and Allen Doyle, this year's Senior PGA Tour money leader.

Isao Aoki, Dave Eichelberger, Bruce Fleisher, Frank Conner and Walt Morgan had 69s.

Two-time defending champion Jim Dent struggled on the back nine and double bogeyed the 16th hole to finish at 2-over-par 74, hindering his efforts to become only the fifth senior to win the same tournament three consecutive years.

Despite a steady wind at the Tournament Players Club at Piper Glen, 28 golfers turned in scores below par. Arnold Palmer thrilled the gallery with a 71.

"Any time I get anywhere near the guys in contention, I feel pretty good," said the 69-year-old Palmer, who is recovering from prostate cancer. "Today, I didn't struggle and I played somewhat better."

Zarley, 59th on the money list, shot 33 on the front side.

However, Zarley blew two opportunities to take sole possession of the lead by failing to convert a 6-foot birdie putt on the 17th and a relatively easy 4-footer on 18.

"I didn't read either putt real well and that's sort of disappointing," Zarley said. "But it's been a long time since I've had a first round like this. I've been down on my game lately. A round like this certainly helps your confidence heading into the rest of the tournament."

Dickson started his round with three birdies on the first four holes and shot 33 on the front nine.

"You can't win a tournament on the first day, but you can sure lose it if you get off to a rough, rough start," Dickson said. "I hit the ball very good last week at the PGA Seniors Championship and I hit it well again."

Doyle was one of the favorites coming into the tournament after winning the PGA Seniors Championship. He had seven birdies today, but also bogeyed three holes.

"The wind was tough," Doyle said. "It got going on the back nine where it was blowing against and across you, then with you, and then back across and against you. It was kind of hard to figure out what it was doing on any given shot. So, all in all, a 68 is not a bad score."

Dill looked as though he'd run away with the first-round lead with birdies on five consecutive holes to move to 5-under after six holes. But he cooled off to finish at 68.