Mediate leads after Senior PGA record-tying 62

7:54 PM ET

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Rocco Mediate played the first 13 holes in 9 under and closed with five pars for a 62 to match the Senior PGA Championship and Harbor Shore records Thursday.

Taking advantage of greens softened by overnight rain, Mediate matched the marks set by Kenny Perry in the 2012 final round.

“It wasn’t wet, as far as soaking wet. A couple wet spots. But it was fine,” Mediate said. “Greens were good. Soft. They received pretty good. … I know it rained like heck last night. I heard it last night. But the golf course was fine. Greens were good. Everything was good. A little softer.”

Rocco Mediate tied Kenny Perry’s Senior PGA Championship record of 62, which Perry achieved in the 2012 final round. Jeff Curry/Getty Images

Mediate, 53, capped a front-nine 29 with an eagle on the par-5 ninth and added birdies on the par-3 11th and 13th holes at Jack Nicklaus-designed Harbor Shores.

“Solid stuff,” Mediate said. “A lot of fairways. A bunch of greens. When I missed it was in the right spot. … I hit it close, so I had a lot of short putts for birdie. I didn’t really make a long one. It was one of those days. I just drove it really well. I hit a lot of solid irons.”

Mediate has two victories on the 50-and-over tour after winning six times on the PGA Tour.

“Stuff I’m working on is coming around,” Mediate said. “I’m just trying to get back to what I used to do …

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