Updated

Bob Gaus and Bruce Nakamura each shot 3-under 69 on Thursday at River Creek Club to share the first-round lead in the Senior PGA Professional National Championship.

Gaus is a PGA teaching professional at Tower Tee Golf Center in St. Louis. Nakamura, who turned 50 in June, is a PGA teaching professional at Aviara Golf Academy in Carlsbad, Calif.

Defending champion Kirk Hanefeld of Acton, Mass., topped a 10-player group a stroke back.

The final two rounds will be played at Creighton Farms. The low 35 scorers will earn spots in the Senior PGA Championship in May at Bellerive in St. Louis.