Gil Morgan, John Bland, Tom Wargo, Steve Veriato and Yakima native Kermit Zarley - the only golfers to break par were tied with 1-under-par 69s after the first round of the U.S. Senior Open.

Incredibly, 18 men were within two strokes of the top of the leaderboard as no one could consistently solve the hard-breaking greens and tricky pin placements at Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Ill.

One stroke back at even-par 70 were Dave Eichelberger, Leonard Thompson and club pro Buddy Whitten.

The 10 golfers at 71, two back, were 1992 champion Larry Laoretti, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Bill Hall, Frank Conner, Marion Heck, Bill Tindall, Dana Quigley, David Oakley, Bruce Summerhays and John Jacobs.

Defending champion Dave Stockton and most of the Senior PGA Tour’s most popular golfers - Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Hale Irwin - weren’t among those bunched at the top.

Robert Damron shot a 6-under 65 for a one-stroke lead as darkness suspended the first round of the $1.5 million St. Jude Classic in Memphis, Tenn. Kenny Perry, Nick Price and Craig Kanada each shot 66. Curtis Strange and John Wilson were among nine others at 67. Ex-Pullman resident Kirk Triplett shot a 72.