Schmierer Tied for 3rd, Berry for 5th in Arizona State Senior Open

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The temperature hit 100 degrees over the weekend, and it will be in triple figures again by Saturday. But on Tuesday, it was 74 degrees with light winds. Those are ideal conditions for Phoenix, and Alan Sorenson took advantage of them to shoot a 7-under-par 65 on the Pine Course at McCormick Ranch Golf Club in the opening round of the Arizona State Senior Open.

That has him two strokes ahead of the field going into Wednesday's final round. 

Sorenson, a professional from Bakersfield, Calif., made six birdies plus an eagle at the 519-yard, par-5 12th hole, and one bogey. 

Las Vegas pro Jeff LeMaster is second with a 67. Right behind him with a bogey-free 68 is a Minnesotan, Brad Schmierer, the former head pro at Hastings CC (now Dakota Pines). The 65-year-old former Minnesota State Match Play champion took advantage of the front-nine par-5's, making birdies on both of them, and he also birdied the par-4 ninth. He added a birdie at the par-4 10th and parred the last eight holes on the back nine to get within three of the lead.

Also in the hunt is Don Berry, 56, the head pro at Edinburgh USA and winner of a record 39 Minnesota state championships, including five Minnesota State Senior Opens in the six years that he's been eligible for that tournament. The nine-time State PGA champ started on the back nine and birdied the 370-yard, par-4 10th hole. He followed that with 10 consecutive pars, before making two more birdies at the par-4 fourth and par-5 fifth holes on his way to a 69.

He's tied for fifth.  

Like Schmierer, Berry got around the course on Tuesday without making a bogey. Jon Chaffee's card wasn't quite so clean. The 62-year-old former Minnesota State Open champ and winner of the Minnesota Golf Champions made four birdies and four bogeys in a 72, which has him tied for 13th.  


MEN'S PROFESSIONAL GOLF

Arizona Senior State Open

At McCormick Ranch -- Pine 

Par 72, 6,741yards

Scottsdale, Ariz. 

First-round results

1. Alan Sorenson, Bakersfield, Calif.          65

2. Jeff LeMaster, Las Vegas                       67

T3. Brad Schmierer, Scottsdale               68

T3. Ken Tanigawa, Phoenix                        68

T5. Don Berry, Rogers                               69

T5. Gerry Norquist, Anthem, Ariz.               69

T7. R.W. Eaks, Scottsdale                          70

T7. Jay Williamson, St. Louis                     70

T13. Jon Chaffee, Scottsdale                   72

T39. Dave Kluver, Mesa, Ariz.                  76

T44. Greg Avant, Chandler, Ariz.             77