Champions newcomer Browne joins Nielsen, Vaughan atop leaderboard at Principal Charity Classic

Browne, Nielsen, Vaughan top leaderboard in Iowa

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Champions Tour newcomer Olin Browne, native Iowan Lonnie Nielsen and Bruce Vaughan are tied for the lead at 4 under after the opening round of the Principal Charity Classic.

Eleven others were within one shot of the lead Friday, including Nick Price, Fred Funk and Tom Kite. Two-time defending champion Jay Haas shot 1-over 72.

Browne, in his first appearance on the senior circuit, had just one bogey and nearly made a hole-in-one at No. 16.

Nielsen, a former star at the University of Iowa, shot a 31 on the front nine and is tied for the opening-round lead for the second year in a row.

Vaughan, who missed the cut at last week’s Senior PGA Championship, made five birdies in his final 10 holes.