KAUPULEHU-KONA, Hawaii (AP) — Russ Cochran had two eagles and six birdies in a career-best 10-under 62 on Friday to take the first-round lead in the Champions Tour’s season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship.
The 52-year-old left-hander, a two-time winner last season, was near-perfect in his bogey-free round on a defenseless day at Hualalai. He had a two-stroke lead over defending champion Tom Watson and Ben Crenshaw.
With son Ryan on the bag, Cochran missed just one green in regulation. After making the turn in 32, Cochran had two eagles and two birdies in the next six holes to shoot atop the leaderboard.
Bernhard Langer, the three-time defending player of the year and the 2009 champion, opened with a 65 to match Jeff Sluman and Mark McNulty. Tom Lehman, Mark O’Meara and John Cook shot 66s.
