GOLF ROUNDUP : Stockton Gets Psyched Up to Tie for Senior Open Lead

Dave Stockton, who spent almost two hours with a psychologist the night before to aid his mental approach, and Jack Kiefer, a virtually unknown club pro, shot four-under par 67s Thursday and shared the first-round lead of the U.S. Senior Open Golf Championship at Bethlehem, Pa.

Stockton had five birdies during his round over the 6,700-yard, par-71 Saucon Valley Country Club course, missing an opportunity to lead alone when he bogeyed the 18th hole. Kiefer had four birdies without a bogey.

Stockton said he had been frustrated with a recent tendency to spray shots and talked with psychologist Debra Graham in an effort to ease some tension.

“I play a mental game, and 90% of this game is mental,” Stockton said. “I told her about my frustration and explained that it was hard to maintain my composure.

“She told me to concentrate on the mental and don’t worry about where the ball goes, and that’s what I did. I was relaxed today.”

Kiefer, 52, is commuting 61 miles to the tournament from his golf range at Newton, N.J.

“I hit all the fairways, and No. 10 is the only green I missed all day,” said Kiefer, who joined the senior tour in 1990. He has had three top-10 finishes in 41 tournaments and has earned $165,086. In six tournaments this year, his best is a tie for 18th.

Larry Laoretti shot a bogey-free 68 over a course softened by rain. The group at 69 is made up of Gibby Gilbert, winner of the last two Senior events, Simon Hobday, Tom Shaw, Harold Henning, Joe Jimenez and Gay Brewer.

Defending champion Jack Nicklaus shot a 70. Arnold Palmer was at 72, with Lee Trevino and Chi Chi Rodriguez at 73.

Morris Hatalsky one-putted the first 12 holes on the way to a six-under-par 65 and a one-shot lead in the Anheuser-Busch Classic at Williamsburg, Va.

Hatalsky finished with 16 one-putts and two two-putts.

His total of 20 was two off the tour’s one-round record, shared by Kenny Knox, Andy North, Mike McGee and Sam Trahan.