FRIEDENSBURG — Joe Coulson took a major step toward winning a third straight title Friday in the opening round of the 21st annual Schuylkill County Amateur Golf Senior Stroke-Play Championships.

The two-time defending Senior Division winner, Coulson shot a 4-under-par 68 at Hidden Valley Golf Course, taking a one-shot lead over Bruce Lord (69) after Day 1 of the two-day, 36-hole tournament. The event continues Sunday.

The Senior Championships are broken up into three divisions — Senior Division (ages 55-64), Super Seniors (ages 65-74) and Legends (age 75 and over). There were 10 Senior Division golfers, 12 in the Super Seniors and three Legends.

Nick Michels leads the Super-Senior Division with a 73, followed by Frank McGinty (77), Jeff Schoener (78) and a three-way tie between Ray Misstishen (79), Tim Wood (79) and Mike Muncy (79). Muncy is the defending Super-Senior champion, while Michels, Misstishen and Wood are all former Senior Division champions.

Another former champion, Dennis “Soup” Campbell, leads the Legends bracket with an 82. He’s followed by Larry Hart (84) and Allen Shiner (86).

The second round of the tournament gets under way at 11:04 a.m. Sunday at Hidden Valley Golf Course.

21st Schuylkill County Amateur Golf

Senior Stroke-Play Championships

At Hidden Valley Golf Course

Friday’s results

Senior Division

Joe Coulson 68, Bruce Lord 69, Jim Dietz 74, Michael Wells 75, Joe Orsulak 83, Steve Reiter 83, Ken Reynolds 83, Ron Bruce 84, Tom McAfee 84, Albert Gricoski 87

Super-Senior Division

Nick Michels 73, Frank McGinty 77, Jeff Schoener 78, Ray Misstishen 79, Tim Wood 79, Mike Muncy 79, Roger Carl 81, Dave Kurzinsky 81, Bill Kaczmarczyk 82, Mike Barnes 86, Mike Elchisak 94, Paul Shilko 97

Legends Division

Dennis Campbell 82, Larry Hart 84, Allen Shiner 86, John Bashago WD, Henry Oravitz WD

Sunday’s Starting Times

11:04 a.m. — Dennis Campbell, Larry Hart, Allen Shiner

11:12 a.m. — Mike Barnes, Mike Elchisak, Paul Shilko

11:20 a.m. — Tom McAfee, Al Gricoski, Bill Kaczmarczyk

11:28 a.m. — Tim Wood, Mike Muncy, Roger Carl, Dave Kurzinsky

11:36 a.m. — Joe Orsulak, Steve Reiter, Ken Reynolds, Ron Bruce

11:44 a.m. — Nick Michels, Frank McGinty, Jeff Schoener, Ray Misstishen

11:52 a.m. — Joe Coulson, Bruce Lord, Jim Dietz, Michael Wells