European Senior Tour Member Bernhard Langer posted a ten under par round of 62 on Friday to take a three-stroke in the ACE Group Classic on the US Champions Tour.
The highlight of the German’s opening round came at the par four tenth hole, where he struck a perfect nine iron from 141 yards into the cup for an eagle.
“I just heard a lot of noise when it hit the flag,” he said. “Sometimes they bounce out and go all over the place, but this one stayed in, so that was nice.”
Langer notched three birdies on the front nine on TwinEagles’ Talon Course, before racing home in just 29 strokes courtesy of the tenth hole eagle and five birdies – including four in a row from the 13th.
The 55 year old, who has finished second and third in his last two appearances on the Champions Tour, required an eagle and a birdie on the final two holes to register a 59, but ultimately his bid to enter the history books came up just short.
“I was thinking even though it’s wet and the course is playing much longer, if I hit a really great tee shot on the 17th, I might get there (in two) with a 3-wood. But I slightly mis-hit my tee shot, and I was about 10 yards too far away to go for it,” he said.
Langer, who has won 16 titles since turning 50, won the event in 2011 at The Quarry.
American Bob Tway was second after a 65, whilst his compatriots Tom Pernice Jnr., Jay Don Blake and John Huston all shot rounds of 66.
Two-time Senior Major Champion Roger Chapman of England opened with a round of 68.
