NORWICH – A pair well acquainted with the top of the leaderboard grabbed the early lead in the 48th Annual Canasawacta Country Club men’s member-guest here Thursday.

The father-son team of Bob and Mike Branham, champions in 2004, fired a 6-under-par 64 to lead second-place Tim Carson-Scott Seiler and Roger Gray-Brian Loomis by four shots, who each fashioned first-round 68s.

“It really helps to get off to a good start,” said Mike Branham. “We did a really good job of team golf...and it helps when you’re in trouble on a hole and your partner is making birdie.”

Through the luck of the draw, the Branhams earned a fortuitous starting hole beginning on the par-five 10th hole. Playing the easier of the two nines; however, did not yield low scores with the first eight holes all ending in pars. Magic struck, though, on the 18th hole.

Bob Branham, the winningest individual scratch champion in course history, drove the ball into the greenside bunker even with the pin. He holed his sand shot for an eagle to start a bevy of under-par holes. Mike birdied the first hole, and the team closed with a 31 on the front nine – a six-under-par aggregate over the final 10 holes.

“We had a good draw on the holes, but it didn’t initially work out as planned,” Bob said. “You never know when things are going to happen, and we really got it rolling after the eagle.”

The Branhams were never really in the hunt a year ago finishing well back of defending champions Tim Mirabito and Ken Stewart, who matched par carding a 70. “We just took it hole by hole today, and never really struggled for a par,” Bob said.

Second-round play continues today at 8 a.m. and teams will be flighted for the final round on Saturday upon completion of Friday’s golf.

<h3>First-round scoring</h3>

Branham-Branham 64

Carson-S. Seiler 68

Gray-Loomis 68

DeMellier-Gelsomin 69

Muserilli-Conklin 69