CHAMPIONS TOUR Smyth, McCord share lead at Kroger Classic

Tom Kite, David Eger and Doug Tewell each trailed by one stroke.
MAINEVILLE, Ohio (AP) -- European Tour veteran Des Smyth and television analyst Gary McCord shot 7-under 65s Friday and were tied for the first-round lead at the $1.5 million Kroger Classic.
Tom Kite, David Eger and Doug Tewell were at 6 under, and six players were two strokes off the pace in the Champions Tour event.
Fifty players finished in red figures on the 7,064-yard TPC at River's Bend, which turned out to be very accommodating after a nearly 5-hour delay because of fog.
"When I got up this morning and went outside and couldn't find outside, I knew we had some problems," said McCord, who described himself as "in a vortex right now, trying to figure out what to do."
McCord is obligated to work 20 PGA tournaments a year with CBS, but wants to earn enough prize money on the over-50 circuit to maintain his playing exemption.
"I'd love to win," McCord said. "That is a solid goal. That would take care of a lot of things."
Smyth needs good outing
Smyth, who has never won a PGA or Champions event, was just 1 under after five holes, then strung together six birdies.
"I had a very good day today, and I'm in dire need of a good tournament," said Smyth, struggling to maintain his exempt status for next year.
"I played very well last year but didn't win," he said. "I thought I would take a step forward this year, but I took two steps backward."
Smyth three-putted the 16th for bogey but got back to 7 under with a birdie on the par-5 18th after driving into a bunker and then hitting an 8-iron within 2 feet.
"It was a nice way to finish," said Smyth, still elated over his birdie string. "Six is good. I'm normally happy if I get three in a row."
McCord, playing only his 10th Champions tournament this year, has been in contention in his past three events, including the Ford Senior Players Championship.
He would like to continue to play 10-to-12 tournaments a year, and was encouraged by his play Friday.
"I was really hitting the ball well until I sort of slowed down at the end," McCord said. "Seven under after 11, then all of a sudden I started missing shots. The game got hard again. Stupid game."
The Kroger field is one player short of its 78-player complement because Vicente Fernandez evidently forgot he had committed to play and went home to Argentina, a Tour spokesman said.
Season points leader Craig Stadler is not playing this week, after winning the past two Champions Tour events.