Cochran leads LIME Open

Adrian Frater, News Editor

Western Bureau:

Reigning Senior British Open champion, Russ Cochran, took the early lead in the US$85,000 LIME Jamaica Open Golf Tournament at the Half Moon Golf Course in Montego Bay yesterday, when he conquered a persistent mid-afternoon drizzle to shoot a four under par 68.

"It was a little bit of a struggle between hole number five and number 12, but after that I got in some birdies," said the affable Cochran, one in a long list of American contenders. "I believe I had enough good shots today to give me a lot of confidence going forward."

Cochran's four under par 72 was one stroke better than his compatriots Michael Bennett and Kenny Goodykoonntz, who both shot three under par 69, playing most of the time in a steady drizzle.

Defending champion Ron Schroeder, also of the United States, had a somewhat miserable day and was quite disappointed with one over-par score, which left him outside of the top five.

Chasing a record

"It was not a good day for me as I only made one birdie," said the disappointed Schroeder. "Come tomorrow, I need to get in some putts because I need to shoot at least a 67 to get back into this tournament."

On a day in which several Jamaicans acquitted themselves quite well, Johnny Broomfield, who is chasing a record fourth Jamaica Open title, was the best of the lot, shooting a good two under par which represented his best start in recent years.

Broomfield's two under was good enough to have him in a five-way tie for third place with the US trio of reigning US Open Senior champion Orin Brown, multiple PGA and Senior Tour winner Jim Thorpe, and Dave Rummellis and Canada's Dave Lavesque.

"I am very happy with the start I got today, it was my best start in recent years," said Broomfield, who finished second last year. "The course feels good and I feel great ... I think I am in a good position to push for a win but you never know, golf is a crazy game."

The lanky Broomfield, who many feel is on the verge of breaking through into the big times, shares the LIME Jamaica Open titles record with former national star Seymour Rose who, like him, has won the tournament three times. Rose won in 1977, 1982 and 1987.

Among the other Jamaicans who figured well on yesterday's opening day were Wesley Brown and Paul Warren, who both shot even par; and Fabian Campbell, who shot one over-par 73.

"It was an excellent first day, we had some very good scores out there," said Wayne Chai Chong, president of the Jamaica Golf Association. "The conditions were as good as we had hoped for, and it's really looking good going into the next two days."