GOLF ROUNDUP : A Smooth Round for Rocky: He Shoots a 62 to Lead by Four

Rocky Thompson started with five consecutive birdies on his way to a course record 10-under-par 62 and a four-stroke lead Friday in the opening round of the $400,000 MONY Syracuse Senior Classic.

Thompson, 51, tied this year’s senior low nine-hole score of 29 by Jim Dent at The Tradition tournament in April.

Thompson, of Toco, Tex., added three birdies on the back nine to break Al Geiberger’s 1989 Lafayette Country Club course record of 63.

The round was the lowest 18-hole score on a par-72 course on tour this year, bettering the 63 turned in by Charles Coody at the Chrysler Cup in February.

Tied for second place are Joe Jiminez, Walt Zembriski, Babe Hiskey, Bruce Devlin and Bobby Nichols.

Janet Anderson and Sandra Palmer, two golfers who have known little success in recent years, shot five-under-par 67s for a share of the first-round lead of the LPGA’s $400,000 Lady Keystone Open at Hershey, Pa.

Anderson, who has failed to make the cut seven times this season, and Palmer, who has missed it four times, shared a one-stroke lead after one trip around the 6,348-yard West Course of the Hershey Country Club.

Beth Daniel, last year’s leading money-winner, was at 68 along with rookie Michele Estill, Barb Mucha and Jody Anschutz.

Anderson, who started on No. 10, was even par after six holes. She got started with an eagle three on the 451-yard 16th and a birdie on the 165-yard 17th. She had the lead to herself after birdies at Nos. 2, 5 and 6, but she bogeyed her final hole.

Palmer’s last tour victory came in 1986. Her best finish this year, her 27th on the tour, was 24th at Atlantic City.