Leaderboard

Dave Eichelberger and Roy Vucinich have very different histories on the Senior PGA Tour, but after the first round of the Toshiba Senior Classic at Newport Beach Country Club on Friday, they have at least two things in common. First, they shot five-under-par 66s and are tied for the lead, a stroke ahead of Larry Nelson and Howard Twitty. Second, neither has a game plan for today's second round.

What has gotten into Riviera Country Club? This heavenly golf course is supposed to be the province of the gods. If you didn't have a name like Hogan or Snead, if you didn't pack a strong golf resume in your briefcase, you had no business winning a tournament here. This week it opened its gates to everyone. Elite, journeymen, rich, poor, huddled masses . . . they're all welcome to take a crack at the 2000 Nissan Open title.

Lorie Kane developed that contagious smile as a synchronized swimmer in Canada. Of course, playing the U.S. Women's Open at Old Waverly Golf Club will put a smile on just about anyone. The Open's reputation as being the toughest test in golf took another beating Friday when Kane added her name to the record books with an eight-under-par 64 that moved her into a share of the lead with Juli Inkster.

In its fourth year at Newport Beach Country Club, the Toshiba Senior Classic is settling into a routine as certain as the cool afternoon breeze off the Pacific. There have never been fewer than three players in the lead after the first round, and Friday was true to form with Gary McCord, John Jacobs, Bruce Summerhays and Tom Jenkins each shooting four-under-par 67. "You are probably not going to blow the field away here," Summerhays said. "A lot of people are in the tournament normally."