Hendley, who finished 6th in this tournament a year ago and who made the final 16 of the U.S. Senior Amateur in 2014, shot an even par 72 for a 143 total. Scott Mayne of Harrisburg, PA had the round of the day, a two-under 70, to move into solo second at 145.
If Hendley and Mayne play well tomorrow, it will be a two-man race for the title. The next closest pursuers--2014 champion Steve Sharpe, Allen Barber, and Walter Todd--are five shots behind Hendley.
The co-leaders after round one both retreated down the leaderboard. Sharpe started with a triple bogey, seemed to recover with four birdies, but then lost five shots on the back nine to finish with a 78.
Bert Atkinson got on the bogey train (nine of them, plus a double) and shot 82 to fall back into a tie for eleventh at 152.
32 players made the cut, which fell at 160.
In the Super Senior Division, Greenville Country Club member Johnny Dennis saw his four shot lead disappear, going from 68 to 78 for a 146 total. But he still shares the lead, with defending champion Neil Spitalny joining him by shooting consecutive 73s.
In what promises to be a Friday shootout, seven players sit within two shots of the lead. Allan Small, Tim Miller, and Don Russell are all one shot behind the lead, while Peter Van Ingen and Curt Knorr are two shots back at 148.
In the Legends Division contested at the Riverside Course, Don Wood (73-75--148) leads George Washburn by one shot, and first-round leader John Blank by three.