Jerry Smith has ace, leads Tucson Conquistadores Classic

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Jerry Smith had a hole-in-one and shot a 7-under 65 on Friday to take the first-round lead in the Champions Tour's inaugural Tucson Conquistadores Classic.

The 50-year-old Smith used a 5-iron on the 212-yard seventh hole — his 16th hole of the day — on Tucson National's Catalina Course. He played the final nine holes in 6-under 30, making birdies on Nos. 2, 3, 6 and 8.

Based in Scottsdale, Smith earned fully exempt status on the 50-and-over tour in November with a tie for third at Q-school. He won the Asian Tour's 1998 Guam Open and made 153 PGA Tour starts.

Colin Montgomerie, David Frost, Steve Pate and Marco Dawson were tied for second at 67.

Kirk Triplett, the winner of the PGA Tour's final Tucson Open in 2006 at Tucson National, was three strokes back at 68 along with Bart Bryant and Corey Pavin. Bryant is coming off a playoff loss to Lee Janzen last month in Naples, Florida.

Bernhard Langer opened with a 69.

Jesper Parnevik had a 71 in his Champions Tour debut. The five-time PGA Tour winner turned 50 on March 7. He missed the cut two weeks ago in the PGA Tour's Puerto Rico Open after injuring his back in a fall during a practice round.

Fred Couples and Tom Lehman shot 72, and Tom Watson had a 76.

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