Former U.S. Open Champion Michael Campbell shares the opening-round lead with South African duo Darren Fichardt and Keith Horne at the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship after all three carded superb six-under-par 66s on a dramatic day at Trump International Golf Links, Aberdeen.

In a remarkable spell of scoring in the opening morning, three different players recording holes-in-one on the par-three seventh in the space of just 90 minutes. Fan favourite Michael Block ignited celebrations with a spectacular slam-dunk ace using a six iron before Royal Ascot PGA qualifiers Sam Little and Gary Murphy remarkably followed with aces of their own later in the day. Little’s seven iron landed beyond the flag before spinning back into the cup, with Murphy’s following an almost identical route to complete an extraordinary hat-trick of aces on the same hole.

At the top of the leaderboard the chasing pack includes Sweden’s Patrik Sjöland and home favourite David Drysdale, who carded five-under-par 67s to sit one shot back. Scotland’s Greig Hutcheon and 2025 Order of Merit Winner Scott Hend are tied for sixth on four-under-par 68, while 2022 Staysure PGA Seniors Champion Adilson da Silva sits eighth on three under.

Campbell, the 2005 U.S. Open Champion, carded a bogey-free six-under-par 66, missing just two greens all day as he tamed the challenging coastal conditions in Aberdeen. The round was capped by a superb birdie on the par-5 18th, the New Zealander getting up and down from a greenside bunker for a closing four that give him a share of the lead.

“It was stress-free out there. I drove the ball great. I’ve been trending in the right direction over the last couple of weeks with some good golf, and my putting is better now. It’s a combination of everything really,” said Campbell. Campbell believes improvements to both his putting and driving have been the key to his recent performances.

“I’ve had putting issues the last six months or so, but I’ve sorted that out through my routine and trying to visualise the putts more clearly. My driving has always been my nemesis, but I hit every fairway today and I’m feeling very comfortable out there right now.”

Fichardt, who lost out to Bo Van Pelt in a dramatic playoff at last year’s Staysure PGA Seniors Championship, continued his excellent recent form after finishing runner-up at last month’s ISPS HANDA Senior Open.

“I was very happy. It was freezing cold this morning, so I thought something around level par would be quite good. But I made a few putts, hit the ball really well and got it to seven-under before the bogey on the par three,” said Fichardt.

Having come so close to lifting the trophy last year, Fichardt says his return to Aberdeen carries extra motivation.

“Absolutely, there’s unfinished business. Last year with three or four holes to go my wrist packed up, so I was pushing through and hoping it was going to last – and it didn’t. So definitely unfinished business.”

Four-time DP World Tour winner Horne carded a 66 after a composed day’s work around the New Course, where he managed the challenging conditions expertly to join his compatriot at the top of the leaderboard.

“I’m pretty chuffed. I played solid all day. I didn’t really know what to expect. I didn’t do too much wrong, didn’t get into too much trouble and I putted really well today. I didn’t miss anything I should have made and my pace on the greens was good,” said Horne.

The South African admitted the changing winds played a significant role throughout the day.

“The wind was blowing and it was really tough in the beginning, so I had to be really careful. I actually think I got a bit lucky towards the end when the wind eased on the closing holes, but I’ll certainly take it.”

Elsewhere there were mixed fortunes for the home favourites, with tournament host Colin Montgomerie, 2014 Ryder Cup hero Stephen Gallacher and 1999 Open Champion Paul Lawrie all opening with level-par rounds to sit inside the top 25.

Round two of the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship gets underway on Friday, with the three co-leaders looking to build an early advantage heading into the weekend on the New Course.

Tickets for the remaining three days of the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship are still available to purchase via the tournament website. Fans can watch Major champions, Ryder Cup legends and fan favourites compete at Trump International Golf Links, Aberdeen, throughout the rest of the championship.

For more information, visit www.legendstour.com/tickets

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