San Antonio, TX – Fred Couples shot a seven-under 65 on round lead with Steve Lowery at the AT&T Championship.
Couples had eight birdies and a bogey at TPC San Antonio and is looking for his sixth Champions Tour victory -- second this year. He's finished in the top 10 in three of his last four events and has his first 18-hole lead of the year.
It's his second first-round lead on tour overall, and he went on to win the 2010 ACE Group Classic in the only other instance.
Lowery, a three-time PGA Tour champion, has yet to win on the senior tour and has finished 54th or worse in each of his last three events. His last victory came in 2008 at Pebble Beach.
This is the last full-field event on the Champions Tour, and players are jockeying for position for the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship. Only the top 30 money leaders make the field, and several are sitting square on the bubble.
The two players in the last spot and first out, respectively, didn't do themselves any favors on the first day of play this week. In fact, both No. 30 Tom Pernice, Jr. and No. 31 Bob Gilder are tied for 66th out of 78 at three- over 75.
The one bubble player who probably put himself in the best position on Friday was Hal Sutton, who is currently No. 36. Sutton shot a six-under 66, tied for third with Nick Price.
Tommy Armour III, who is trying to protect his spot at No. 27, is tied for fifth with Chien Soon Lu (No. 22) at minus-five.
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