ORION, Mich., July 12 (UPI) -- Tom Kite, 20 years after his victory at the U.S. Open, took a one-shot lead Thursday after the opening round of the U.S. Senior Open.
Kite shot a tournament-record 28 on the front nine of the Indianwood Golf & Country Club course en route to a 5-under 65.
At age 62, he would be the oldest winner of this tournament, and he would also become the eighth player to capture both the regular Open title as well as the Senior Open crown. He had the lead at last week's Champions Tour stop on the Monterey Peninsula heading into the final round, but faded into a tie for 10th.
He was one shot in front of Lance Ten Broeck and Bernhard Langer while those two shots behind included Jeff Sluman, Fred Funk, Mikael Hogberg, Tom Pernice and Corey Pavin.
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Pavin left the course having apparently shot a 65 that would have tied him for the lead, but tournament officials assessed him a two-shot penalty because his ball moved as he prepared to hit it during play at the fifth hole.
Defending champion Olin Browne had a 69 and was tied for 15th.
Kite eagled the par-4 fourth hole while putting together his record-setting 28.
"It was a lot of fun. You don't get rounds like that very often, especially in major championships," Kite said. "The hole just seemed large and I was hitting some nice shots and obviously getting some nice breaks."
His round was marred, however, by a double-bogey at the par-3 17th.
Kite has the best record at the Masters among the players who have never won that tournament. He has finished second at the Masters to Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros and Tiger Woods.
