GOLF/US Tour: Franklin Langham tied the course record with an eight-under-par 63 on Thursday to open a two-shot lead after the first round of the $3.6m Kemper Open in Maryland.
Winless in nine years on the PGA Tour, Langham torched the TPC at Avenel with a bogey-free round that included eight birdies. He became the ninth person to shoot a 63. The 2000 runner-up at this event, Langham also matched the lowest round of his career, previously established in the second round of the 2000 Doral-Ryder Open.
Bob Estes is two shots back while Chris DiMarco is among five players three strokes behind. Australia's Greg Norman is in contention also after a four-under 67.
LEADING SCORES (US unless stated): 63 - F Langham. 65 - B Estes. 66 - C DiMarco, B Gay, B Watts, J Williamson, W Wood. 67 - C Barlow, J Durant, A Magee, B Molder, G Norman (Aus), J Senden (Aus), H Tanaka (Jpn), P Tataurangi (Nzl), D Waldorf. 68 - R Beem, B Burns, T Byrum, T Clark, L Donald (Brit), JP Hayes, D Hutsell, K Jones, B May, S Micheel, D Pappas (Rsa), J Sindelar, J Smith. 69 - T Armour III, M Brooks, S Dunlap, H Frazar, J Gallagher, S Gangluff, D Hammond, M Heinen, B Henninger, T Herron, G Hnatiuk, M Angel J (Spa), J Kaye, H Kuehne, L Mize, M Muehr, B Pappas (Rsa), G Willis.
