The man known as "Nevada Bob" was out with his viewcam in the early part of the day, so taken was he with the scenery. And, indeed, Woodbrook, basking in almost tropical sunshine, was in pretty benign mood as the AIB Irish Seniors Open first round yesterday witnessed an opening assault of birdies and eagles that produced a three-way tie for the lead.

For those who like to reflect on past glories, the effort of Tony Jacklin in particular rekindled memories. So, it was quite appropriate that Jacklin, the former British and US Open champion, was one of those who fought his way into the overnight lead on four under par 68, where he was joined by Australian Noel Ratcliffe and England's Brian Waites.

Ominously, one behind them lies the in-form Bob Lendzion, the video camera touting native of Nevada, who secured his first seniors tour win in Turkey last week.

But defending champion Tommy Horton struggled to cash in on the birdie blitz (23 players' finished under par for the day's work) and ended with a level par 72. "Don't worry," assured Jacklin, "Tommy will be there or thereabouts come the finish."

Meanwhile, the Irish challenge was headed by Tommy Halpin, a noted teaching professional, and Clare-born US-based Joe McDermott. David Jones, Arnold O'Connor, Eddie Polland and Bobby Browne, with rounds of 71, are also very much in the hunt.

Jacklin, though, was the player who galvanised the galleries with what he admitted, with a cheeky grin, was "a fast start". The 53year-old Englishman - playing in his first European Tour event of the season, but with a promise of many more to come in his quest for a first seniors win on this side of the Atlantic - had five birdies in the first six holes.

But he stumbled slightly just before the turn with a bogey at the long, 443-yard Par 4 seventh - where even the long-hitting Liam Higgins required a drive and oneiron to make the front of the green - and then suffered a double bogey five at the short ninth.

Yet, the best was still to come; and those privileged enough to be present at the 16th, when Messrs Jacklin, Antonio Garrido and Brian Huggett arrived on the scene, will recall it with fondness for a long time. Jacklin led the way by firing in a four-wood second shot to 30 feet, and his two playing companions put their approaches in even closer to the flag. Then, Jacklin rolled in his eagle putt, was followed in by Huggett and, then, Garrido capped off the magical moment by also securing his eagle. Remarkably, the only other eagle on that hole didn't come until three-and-a-half hours later when David Creamer performed a similar feat.

Not surprisingly, Jacklin was pleased with his opening round. "I got off to a fast start, then felt like I'd messed up a bit with the seventh and ninth. But, looking at it objectively, I have to be pleased with the overall outcome," he said. "I putted very nicely, and, if I continue putting well, I will enjoy it."

Ratcliffe was also upbeat about his day's work. The Australian finished runner-up to Horton at St Margaret's last year and also finished second behind the Channel Islander in the Tour's Order of Merit. "My goal is to top the moneylist," admitted Ratcliffe, "but there is a long way to go in that particular race. For now, I just want to concentrate on this tournament."

An important part of the gameplan around Woodbrook is to reap dividends on the Par 5s, and Ratcliffe accomplished this more than adequately by recording birdies at three of the four long holes. However, he claimed that his driving wasn't as good as he'd like. "My old driver was broken in the States last month, and this new one hasn't really got going," he said.

Like Ratcliffe, yesterday's round was the first competitive outing on the Woodbrook course for former Ryder Cup player Waites, who reached four under par after 12 holes and finished off with a steady six successive pars to be part of the three-way overnight lead.

It looked as if Lendzion would join them, but he missed a 12-inch putt for par on the 16th. "The train came down the line just as I was about to putt, and I was waiting for the whistle which never came and just lost concentration," he said. Nevertheless, Lendzion, who has played in two PGA Cup matches and was a club professional for 25 years, considers himself in good shape for a weekend assault.