The U-S Senior Open is underway at the Des Moines Golf and Country Club.When he was three over par after eight holes, Ed Dougherty (dock’-er-tee)had no idea he would end his round under par. But Dougherty birdied theninth then scorched the back nine with two eagles and two birdies to finishfour under 68 and the early clubhouse lead in the Open. Dougherty says hisfortunes changed after he missed a par put on number-eight to move to threeover par.Dougherty’s score of 30 on the back nine tied a record for the best scoreson nine holes in Senior Open history. Dick Clemens is the only Iowan in thefield. The Dubuque native shot a six-over 78. Clemens says playing the Openis a thrill but playing it in Iowa is even better.Clemens says a lot of family and friends are on hand to watch.Clemens lives in East Dubuque, Illinois, and is an assistant womens’basketball coach at Clarke College. The first player to complete a round atthe U-S Senior Open was Tom Storey from Las Vegas, Nevada. Storey finishedwith a five-over 77 after an early morning tee time.Storey was hoping to post a better score with a morning round.Defending champion Hale Irwin finished the day with a one-under par 71. He says the greens were very fast and hard to handle.Irwin says says it will be important to stay within striking distance of the lead all weekend.
