St. Augustine, FL (Sports Network) - Defending champions Jim Colbert and Andy North grabbed a three-shot lead at 13-under par after Saturday's first round of the Legends of Golf at World Golf Village in Florida.
The duo's better-ball score of 59, which matched their opening round from last year's event, was one shot off the 18-hole tournament record set by the team of Al Geiberger and Harold Henning in 1991.
"We both felt confident coming in here," North said. "Jim was playing well and I was playing well. We started slow but got it going at No. 5."
After reeling off four straight pars to begin their round at The King & The Bear course, Colbert and North posted birdies at 13 of the remaining 14 holes to move past Don Bies and Tommy Aaron, who finished a few holes ahead of last year's winners with a 10-under 62.
"I told Andy this is a day you could shoot a low score," said Colbert, who rolled in five of his seven birdie putts from between 12 and 30 feet.
Leonard Thompson and Doug Tewell carded a nine-under 63 to finish the day in third place alongside the pairing of Tom Wargo and John Mahaffey, while Jim Dent and George Archer stand five shots off the pace with 1997 winners Graham Marsh and John Bland at minus-eight.
Gil Morgan and Hubert Green, who joined forces to capture the Legends title in 1999, shot a first-round 65 for a share of seventh place with Simon Hobday and Jim Albus and 2000 runner-ups Bruce Fleisher and David Graham.
Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, the co-designers of the host course, birdied four of the last seven holes Saturday to join a four- team logjam at six-under par.
Lee Trevino and Mike Hill, who combined to win this event in 1991, '92, '95 and '96, are alone at minus-five.
This unofficial Senior Tour event was scheduled to be played over three days but was shortened to a two-day, 36-hole tournament after persistent rain forced the postponement of Friday's first round. The final round will be held Sunday.
Gene Littler and Don January carded a 27-hole total of eight- under 100 to win the Demaret division title for players 70 and older. With their victory Saturday, Littler and January became the first team to win all three divisions of the Legends of Golf. The pair won the Legends title (ages 50-59) in 1985 and '86 and the Legendary crown (ages 60-69) in 1997.
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