Defending US Senior PGA champion Colin Montgomerie sits five shots behind leader Rocco Mediate after the first round of the 2016 edition at Harbor Shores, Michigan.
Mediate stunned the field as he made five birdies and an eagle on the front nine to reach the turn on seven under par.
The 53 year old made a further two birdies and parred the final five holes to card a superb 62 on the opening day of the tournament and equal compatriot Kenny Perry’s course record.
The American has a one-shot lead over Gene Sauers in second place and Mike Goodes is one place behind on seven under par.
Montgomerie, twice defending champion after winning in both 2014 and 2015, is one of four British players tied for tenth on four under par.
The Scot reached the turn at five under par and added another birdie on the 10th hole, but had to settle for a 67 and a score of four under after Thursday’s session.
Alongside Montgomerie are English trio Simon P Brown, Paul Broadhurst and Barry Lane.
Spaniard Pedro Linhart is the best-placed European Senior Tour member as he sits tied for seventh place on five under par.
Bernhard Langer, chasing the US Senior PGA champion to complete a Senior Major grand slam, is two under par alongside fellow Senior Tour members Jesper Parnevik and Peter Senior.
Speaking after his first round 62, Mediate said: “It’s just great to be playing well. We’ve got three more days and who knows what’s going to happen? On this golf course anything can happen, but it’s so far so good.
“It was solid stuff out there. I hit a lot of fairways and a bunch of greens and even when I missed it, it was in the right spot. I had a lot of short putts for birdie, I didn’t really make a long one. I drove it really well and hit a lot of solid irons.”
