MANILA, Philippines - Frankie Miñoza stumbled with a two-over 74 and tumbled to joint 56th at the start of the ACE Group Classic paced by Russ Cochran and Bernard Langer at The Quarry in Naples, Florida Friday.
Out to improve his joint 71st finish in his US Seniors Tour debut last week at the Allianz Championship at Boca Raton, Florida, Miñoza birdied the par-4 No. 1 but dropped a shot on the par-3 second hole then made back-to-back bogeys from No. 7.
He never recovered from that twin mishap, missing a couple of birdie chances at the back and finishing with a 38-36 to drop in the company of Ben Crenshaw, Dan Forsman, Keith Clearwater and eight others.
Cochran and Langer shot identical eight-under-par 64s to share the lead with the former birdying four straight holes to close his frontnine stint then adding three more in the first five holes at the back.
Langer, who earned the Player of the Year award and the money title last year, eagled the par-5 No. 3 and gunned down six more birdies to catch Cochran at the helm.
Mark O’Meara stood a shot farther back at 65 while Mark Calcavecchia, Keith Fergus and Olin Browne all turned in 67s and David Frost, Fred Funk and Nick Price shot similar 68s.