CHAMPIONS

• Roberts leads Commerce Bank Championship

  
  

  East Meadow, NY (Sports Network) - Loren Roberts fired a six-under-par 65 on Friday to take the first-round lead of the Commerce Bank Championship at the Red Course at Eisenhower Park.

  He leads an unheralded pair by a stroke. Gene Jones and Greg Hickman both shot rounds of five-under 66 for a share of second.

  Defending champion Lonnie Nielsen, Eduardo Romero, Mark McNulty, Keith Fergus and Brad Bryant are knotted in fourth place at four-under 67.

  Roberts first broke into red figures with a birdie at the par-five third when he reached the green in two. His next birdie came at the par-three fifth when his 10-footer found the bottom of the cup.

  Roberts two-putted the par-five 12th green for another birdie, then went on a tear to complete his round.

  He hit a seven-iron to four feet to set up birdie at the 15th and took advantage of the next par five, the 17th. Roberts tapped in from less than two feet, but made a substantially longer birdie putt to get the lead.

  At the closing hole, Roberts drained a 43-footer to get into first place.

  "Obviously, it was the finish that turned a so-so round into a really good round," said Roberts.

  "When I hit it close, I was able to capitalize. I had good patience today." Roberts appeared to have his first Champions Tour victory of the season last week at the Bank of America Championship, but Jeff Sluman fired a 64 on Sunday to get the win.

  Roberts, who has three runner-ups this year on the elder circuit, also finished second to Nielsen in 2007, so he has some good feelings this week.

  "Last week, I hit on some things with my golf swing and it continued today," he said. "I was frustrated early in the year. Now I've got something going on in my swing and I feel confident right now." Jones and Hickman got into the field as Monday qualifiers and the two know each other well. Hickman caddied for Jones in qualifiers in years past and the two will be in the last group with Roberts on Saturday.

  "I wouldn't caddie if I didn't have to," acknowledged Hickman, who caddied for Allen Doyle for six years. "I'm just trying to survive out there." "I'm glad I'll get to play with him," Jones said of his former caddie. "We've played lots of golf with each other. He doesn't back down. I'm happy he played well today." Ben Crenshaw, Tim Simpson, Andy Bean, Bobby Wadkins, Nick Price, Dana Quigley, Scott Simpson, Tom McKnight and Mike Goodes are tied for ninth place at three- under 68.

  06/27 17:18:19 ET