Defending champion Joseph Cristillo Jr. of Crystal River leads following the first round of the 34th Florida State Senior Championship at Riverwood Golf Club after shooting a 7-under par 65. He is trying to become only the third player in the history of the State Senior Championship to defend his title.
Cristillo used 7 birdies to distance himself from the rest of the field. Palm City's Jim Applegate is two strokes back after shooting a 5-under par 67 that included a hole-in-one.
Two-time champion Bill King of Jupiter is tied for third with Sarasota's Bill Western after both shot a 3-under par 69. King was 6-under through 10 holes, but made a quadruple-bogey on the par-5 12th hole. He finished the round with a birdie at 18.
Ocala’s Moot Thomas leads the Super Senior Division after a 1-over par 73. He is two strokes ahead of Bob Davis of Ft. Myers and Walter Baldwin of Tampa.
The field is made up of 156 of the state's best amateurs age 55 and over. Second round play will begin Wednesday at 8:00 a.m., with the final round scheduled for Thursday.
