Bob Murphy, relaxed after a two-week layoff, fired a near-perfect 8-under-par 64 to take a two-stroke lead after the opening round of the Seniors Nationwide tournament Friday in Alpharetta, Ga.
Murphy, seeking his 12th Senior Tour victory, was as hot as the 90-degree weather, carding eight birdies without a bogey over the 6,777-yard, par-72 Golf Club of Georgia Lakeside Course.
“It proves that two weeks off was the right thing to do for my brain,” Murphy said.
Bob Charles was next at 66, followed by Graham Marsh at 67. Leading money-winner Hale Irwin and David Graham were another stroke back at 68 in the $1.3 million tournament, with $195,000 going to the winner.
Defending champion Jim Colbert, with a double-bogey 7 on the 18th hole, was at 73.
“I took off two weeks and did nothing for five straight days but fish and relax,” said Murphy, who shot an 81 on the final day of the Ameritech Senior Open on June 1 at Kemper Lakes, his last appearance before Friday.
The 54-year-old tied for 65th in that event and hadn’t finished better than 10th since winning the Toshiba Classic in March.
The warm, humid weather also helped Murphy, who won this tournament two years ago and tied for seventh in 1996.
“When it’s in the 90s, I feel great,” he said. “I like playing in warm weather. The cold weather just beats me up. When it’s hot and I’m sweating, I’m ready.”
LPGA Rochester International: Nanci Bowen, whose sole victory on Tour came in a major championship in 1995, fired a 5-under-par 67 to vault into a tie with Nancy Scranton midway through the tournament in Rochester, N.Y.
Both sank long birdie putts shortly before an afternoon thunderstorm interrupted second-round play for 40 minutes at Locust Hill Country Club. Bowen nailed a 30-footer on the tiered 15th hole; Scranton scored from 40 feet on No. 13.
German Open: In Stuttgart, Spain’s Ignacio Garrido shot a 4-under-par 67 and took a two-stroke lead halfway through the tournament. Garrido had a 10-under 132 total after a round played in wet and windy weather. Argentinian Eduardo Romero was second at 134 after a second straight 67.
