Overland Park ? R.W. Eaks overcame a shanked sand wedge on his third hole to shoot a season-best 7-under 65 on Friday for a share of the first-round lead with Gil Morgan in the Champions Tour’s Bayer Advantage Classic.

Jim Ahern opened with a 66, and hometown favorite Tom Watson, playing with Jack Nicklaus on a course the Golden Bear designed, was in a group at 67 along with Dana Quigley, Rodger Davis, Don Pohl, Lonnie Nielsen, Gary McCord, Mark McNulty and another Kansas City native, Jim Colbert.

Play was suspended for 1 hour, 24 minutes when rain and wind blew through Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate.

The 65-year-old Nicklaus, who has suggested this could be one of his final tournament appearances on American soil, played with his son, Steve, in the pro-am and finished with a 73. Dismissing the importance of the Champions Tour event, he said playing with Steve was the only reason he was here.

“I always try to do my best, but the reason I came is to spend time with Steve,” he said. “A 73, I’m not very happy with. That’s not a very exciting score.”

Eaks, starting on the back nine, bogeyed the 592-yard par-5 12th hole after shanking his sand wedge.

“I don’t think I’ve shanked a ball in 25 years,” Eaks said. “I finally got one out of my system.”

Then he made a 17-foot birdie putt on the par-3 14th and, one hole later, launched a string of four straight birdies.

Watson hit every green, but a balky putter kept him from having a super round.

“I putted for 18 birdies and really didn’t come up with very much,” he said. “It was a good round of golf from tee to green. I was really happy.”

Watson has said he doubted his good friend, the Golden Bear, would appear in an American tournament again. “Jack is the man. He may be playing in his last Champions Tour event. It’s kind of historic to have it here in Kansas City,” Watson said.