GREENVILLE, SC (May 31, 2017) - Bert Atkinson and Stephen Sharpe both shot two-under 70 to share the lead after the first round of the Chanticleer Senior Invitational at Greenville Country Club.
Atkinson, from Charleston, SC had four birdies and two bogeys to post the early lead. Three groups later, Sharpe, the 2014 Chanticleer Senior champion from Greensboro, NC matched the score with the same four birdie and two bogey tally.
Todd Hendley of Greer, SC was the only other player under par at 71.
In the Super Senior Division, Johnny Dennis shot a 68 to take a four shot lead over Allan Small of Savannah, with three players--Peter Van Ingen, Don Russell, and defending champion Neil Spitalny--another shot back at 73. For Dennis, the Chanticleer is a home game as he is a member of Greenville Country Club.
In the Legends Division, John Blank of Frostburg, MD and Charlie Busbee of Stockbridge, GA share the lead at 72.
Now in its seventh year, the Chanticleer Senior Invitational has grown into one of the major events on the senior amateur golf calendar. It is played on the Chanticleer Course at Greenville Country Club, originally designed by Robert Trent Jones and renovated by son Rees in 2002.