Dougherty in the Pink and Red at Senior Open

Physically, Ed Dougherty has been a mess these last few years.

He had major shoulder surgery, herniated two disks and tore a ligament in his wrist. His litany of ailments could fill a medical journal.

But Dougherty shrugged all that aside Thursday and rallied from a faltering start to grab the first-round lead at the U.S. Senior Open at West Des Moines, Iowa.

Helped by two eagles, Dougherty matched a Senior Open record with a 30 on the back nine of the Des Moines Golf and Country Club and finished at four-under-par 68, good for a two-stroke lead.

“I am absolutely thrilled,” said Dougherty, who won only once on the PGA Tour and has yet to win as a senior. “But it is only the first round.”

Gil Morgan, Bruce Summerhays and Walter Hall were two strokes back at 70.

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Ben Bates, a veteran of the Nike Tour, tied the Brown Deer Park course record with a nine-under 62 and held a two-shot lead after the first round of the Greater Milwaukee Open.

“I told the guys I felt like Tiger Woods out there today,” Bates said in his first visit to a PGA interview room.

Mark Calcavecchia and Tom Pernice Jr. were in second place at 64.

*

Tina Barrett shot a career-best eight-under 64 to grab a three-shot, first-round lead at the LPGA Michelob Light Classic at St. Louis.

Nancy Scranton and Canada’s Lori Kane shared second place at 67.

*

Jesper Parnevik of Sweden shot a four-under 67 and took a one-shot lead over teen sensation Sergio Garcia of Spain midway through the Loch Lomond tournament at Glasgow, Scotland.

Parnevik was at 11-under 131.

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In Front

Leaders through Friday’s play (Complete scores, Page 12):

U.S. SENIOR OPEN--Par 72

Ed Dougherty 38-30--68 -4

Bruce Summerhays 34-36--70 -2

Walter Hall 36-34--70 -2

Gil Morgan 35-35--70 -2

Seven tied at-1

GREATER MILWAUKEE OPEN--Par 71

Ben Bates 30-32--62 -9

Mark Calcavecchia 31-33--64 -7

Tom Pernice Jr. 32-32--64 -7

Seven tied at-6

MICHELOB LIGHT CLASSIC--Par 72

Tina Barrett 33-31--64 -8

Nancy Scranton 31-36--67 -5

Lorie Kane 32-35--67 -5

Sherri Turner 35-33--68 -4

Annika Sorenstam 34-34--68 -4

Joanne Morley 34-34--68 -4

Rachel Hetherington 34-34--68 -4