The Woodlands, TX – Tom Lehman, despite a bogey at the last, fired a seven-under 65 on Friday to take the first-round lead at the Insperity Championship.
Lehman, a five-time winner on the Champions Tour and the 1996 British Open champion, owns a one-stroke lead over Tom Jenkins and Fred Funk at The Woodlands Country Club.
Bernhard Langer, John Cook, David Peoples, reigning U.S. Senior Open champion Olin Browne, John Huston, David Eger, Loren Roberts, Rod Spittle and Brad Bryant are knotted in fourth place at four-under 68.
Lehman broke into red figures with a birdie at the second hole -- his only birdie on the opening nine, but the reigning Champions Tour Player of the Year caught fire on the back side.
Lehman birdied the first two holes of the back nine, then reached four-under par with a birdie at the par-five 13th. He took advantage of the next par five with an eagle at the 15th.
The 53-year-old continued his excellent form with birdies at 16 and 17. Lehman moved in front by himself at eight-under par and was seven-under through eight holes of the back nine.
Unfortunately for Lehman, the back nine consisted of nine holes.
Lehman drove into the rough at 18, then knocked his approach into a greenside bunker. He couldn't get up and down for par, but the bogey didn't cost him the first-round lead.
Michael Allen, who has won the last two events on the Champions Tour schedule and is the circuit's leading money winner, carded a three-under 69 on Friday to share 13th.
Defending champion Brad Faxon, who won last year's weather-shortened event, opened with a two-under 70.
NOTES: Lehman won three titles last year en route to the Player of the Year honor...Faxon won this title in October of last year...On Saturday, there will be an exhibition with golf legends Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Lee Trevino among others.
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