Spittle two shots behind Cochran after first round of Montreal Championship

SAINTE-JULIE, Que. – Russ Cochran opened with a 6-under-par 66 on Friday for a two-shot lead over Canadian Rod Spittle and three others at the US$1.8-million Montreal Championship.

Spittle, from Niagara Falls, Ont., was tied with Champions Tour money leader Michael Allen, Jerry Pate and 2010 Montreal Championship winner Larry Mize at 68.

Cochran birdied each of the four par-5 holes on the 6,950-yard Vercheres course at Richelieu Valley Golf Club. He had seven birdies and recorded just one bogey after a three-putt on the par-3 13th hole.

Cochran shared the first-round lead with Tom Wargo two years ago in the inaugural edition of the tournament, which was previously held at Fontainebleau Golf Club in Blainville, Que.

Canadian Claude Tremblay had the first hole-in-one in the tournament’s three-year history Friday. The Blainville, Que., native used a 19-degree hybrid for his ace on the 224-yard 13th hole that delighted the partisan gallery.

He finished with a 5-over-par 77.