Vaughan quietly takes early lead at U.S. Senior Open
<p>Bruce Vaughan hits his tee shot on No. 9 in the first round of the US Senior Open on Thursday at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Wash. Vaughan has a two-shot lead after the first round.</p>
CHAMPIONS
The fans following Fred Couples and Tom Watson early Thursday morning were sometimes six- and seven-deep, wedging themselves between tree trunks and ducking under limbs.
Very quietly, and without much attention, Bruce Vaughan was the player taking early control of the U.S. Senior Open.
Taking advantage of cool morning conditions and mostly avoiding the canopy of trees engulfing Sahalee Country Club, Vaughan opened with a 4-under 66 on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead at Sammamish, Wash.
The 2008 Senior British Open champion - his only victory on the Champions Tour - made just two bogeys in a steady round, while favorites such as Couples (70) and Watson (70) were far more shaky.
"It's just the first day. I mean, there is a lot of golf left and a lot of trouble out there for the next three days," Vaughan said.
Loren Roberts and amateur Tim Jackson, the leader a year ago after two rounds, shot 68s. Bernhard Langer, the British Senior Open winner Sunday, and Tom Lehman were another stroke back along with Mark Calcavecchia, Joe Ozaki and Michael Allen.
Gary Lindeblad, head pro at Indian Canyon in Spokane, shot an 89.
Yani Tseng shot a 4-under 68 in the opening round of the Women's British Open at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England, and is tied for the lead as she pursues her third major championship.
The rising star from Taiwan shot a bogey-free round, putting her in a tie for the lead with Australian Katherine Hull.
Hull was among the last players on the course and also made an eagle on the 18th hole - in front of nearly deserted grandstands - to join Tseng at 4 under. Hull dropped a stroke at the fourth hole before rattling off three birdies in a four-hole stretch beginning at No. 7.
Double heart transplant recipient Erik Compton shot a 7-under 63 in the inaugural Greenbrier Classic to share the first-round lead with rookie Matt Every.
Playing on a sponsor's exemption, Compton made nine birdies, seven over a nine-hole stretch on the Old White course at White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.
Spokane native Alex Prugh shot a 73.