Ridgedale, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - John Cook and Joey Sindelar combined to shoot a 10-under-par 60 in Friday's first round and they lead by one shot at the Big Cedar Lodge Legends of Golf.
Cook is a 10-time winner on the Champions Tour, while Sindelar is seeking his first victory on tour. The team of Cook and Sindelar finished runner-up at this event both in 2010 and 2012.
"When you have a partner as good as John, not only as good as he is but the way he is good, which means in play, he's just relentless in play, and when he isn't, his short game is so good that he recovers," Sindelar said. "So it's just a relief."
In the first two rounds teams will alternate between the Top of the Rock par-3 course and the par-70 Springs Course at Buffalo Ridge Golf Club. Sunday's final round will be played at Top of the Rock. All teams inside the top-5 were at Buffalo Ridge.
Jay Don Blake and David Frost are tied for second with Mark Brooks and John Huston after 9-under 61s. Tom Pernice Jr. and Bob Tway are alongside Cory Pavin and Duffy Waldorf following matching 8-under 62s.
All teams playing at Buffalo Ridge used best-ball, while the first nine holes at Top of The Rock were alternate shot and the second nine was also best-ball.
Sindelar carried the team early on as he made all four birdies on the front side. He opened up with three birdies over the first five holes and following a trio of pars from nine, Sindelar had them rolling around the turn with another gain on nine.
Then Cook started picking things up on the back side as the duo alternated making birdies.
After Sindelar made another birdie on 10, Cook rolled in his first gain at the par-4 12th, getting them to 6-under.
After a pair of pars, Cook and Sindelar closed with four straight birdies from 15. Cook holed birdies from eight and 15 feet at 15 and 17, respectively, while Sindelar drained putts from 20 and six feet at 16 and 18.
"The front nine I was just kind of there and making my pars," said Cook. "I haven't played golf in so long, I was a little rusty early. Once I got my feet going and kind of got back into playing golf, I hit some nice shots on the back, but Joey really covered the front."
Blake and Frost had a strong day that included 10 birdies to go along with a lone bogey at No. 13.
Brooks and Huston made two eagles on the two par-5s on the front nine at one and eight. They also made five birdies in their bogey-free round.
NOTES: Cook also has 11 career wins on the PGA Tour ... Cook's last win on the Champions Tour was at last year's Nature Valley First Tee Open ... Cook's last event was the Tucson Conquistadores Classic, which ended on March 22 ... Sindelar has seven career wins on the PGA Tour, with the last one coming at the 2004 Wachovia Championship. Prior to that win, Sindelar hadn't won since the 1990 Hardee's Golf Classic ... Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam shot the lowest round at Top of the Rock. They are tied for sixth following a 7-under 47.