NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — Russ Cochran and Bernhard Langer shot 8-under-par 64s to share the lead after the first round of the ACE Group Classic on Friday.
Mark O’Meara, back from playing in the Dubai Desert Classic last week, was third after a 65 that included holing out from a greenside bunker for an eagle. Mark Calcavecchia, Keith Fergus and Olin Browne were tied for fourth at 5 under.
Defending champion Fred Couples skipped this event, playing instead in the Northern Trust Open at Los Angeles.
Cochran had opportunities to win going into the final round at both the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship in Hawaii and the Allianz Championship last week, but ended up tying for fourth in both. Langer, who earned the Player of the Year award and the money title last year, finished outside the top 10 in both tournaments.
