Gold-Baird sets pace in Viking Classic

MIAMI, Sep 28 (Reuters) Briny Baird fired a nine-under-par 63 to head the leaderboard after the first day of the Viking Classic PGA tournament in Madison, Mississipi.

The 35-year-old from Miami Beach has not won a PGA tour tournament since turning professional 12 years ago but has a two shot lead over Cameron Beckman after producing 10 birdies, including four in the first five holes yesterday.

Defending champion D J Trahan was on six under par along with fellow Americans Steve Lowery and David Branshaw.

Play was delayed by two and a half hours due to lightning and play was suspended in the evening with the first round due to be completed on Friday.

The winner of the tournament at Annandale Golf Club picks up 630,000 dollar of a 3.5 million dollars purse.

REUTERS BJR PM1026