Snoqualmie, WA (My Sportsbook) - Scott Simpson and Mark Wiebe opened with rounds of five-under 67 Friday to share the lead after one round of the Boeing Classic at the TPC at Snoqualmie Ridge.
Bob Gilder posted a four-under 68 and was joined in a share of third place by Gary Hallberg and David Edwards. There are six players one shot back at minus- three.
Simpson got his round going with a three-foot birdie putt at the first. He parred the next five holes before sinking his next birdie on the par-four seventh.
The 1987 U.S. Open champion carded his third birdie of the round at the 10th. Simpson ran off four straight pars before draining a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-five 15th.
Simpson got to minus-five with a birdie on 17 from 15 feet out and he parred the last to share the first-round lead.
"I played real consistent. I hit the ball pretty straight today," Simpson said. "I had a lot of birdie putts. It was a really good round."
Wiebe was hot early. After he birdied the first two holes, he sank back-to- back birdie efforts from the fourth as he collected four birdies in the first five holes. His longest putt in that stretch was a 15-footer at the first.
The 50-year-old, who has won twice on the Champions Tour, reeled off seven straight pars from the sixth. Wiebe tied Simpson in the lead with a birdie at the 13th.
Wiebe moved into the lead as he sank a four-foot birdie putt on the 15th, however he gave that shot back with a bogey on the par-five 18th as he could not save par from over the green.
"The course was there for the taking and I played well most of the day," Wiebe stated. "I like the way I am playing right now, I just made a couple of mistakes today."
Hale Irwin, the Champions Tour's all-time wins leader, opened with a three- under 69. He was joined in a share of sixth place by Bruce Fleisher, Tom Kite, James Mason, Kenny Knox and Ron Streck.
Nick Price was one of four players tied for 12th at minus-two.
Defending champion Denis Watson is tied for 48th after he opened with a round of two-over 74.
