Montgomery's Tom McGraw, a two-time senior player of the year, hits out of the sand on the 10th hole Friday at Willow Brook Country Club in the Texas Golf Association Senior Amateur golf tournament. (Herb Nygren Jr. | Tyler Morning Telegraph)

On a beautiful sun swept Friday in East Texas, some of the best golfers in Texas tackled the stately Willow Brook Country Club course.

At the end of the first round of the 2013 Texas Senior Amateur Championship, Granbury’s Leland Chiles and San Antonio’s Mike Arnold lead their divisions.

Chiles, who carded a 3-under 68, tops the Senior Division (age 55 to 64), while Arnold, who fired a 1-under 70, leads the Super Senior Division (age 65 and over).

The second round of the tournament is Saturday with golfers teeing off on Nos. 1 and 10 at 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Chiles, who leads by a stroke over three golfers, had five birdies and a double bogey during the first round.

Just a stroke back at 69 in second are The Woodlands’ Herb Fisher, Fort Worth’s Gary Hardin and Irving’s Mike Peck. Tied for fifth at 1-under 70 are Arlington’s Phil Austin and Dallas’ Lee Sandlin.

Five players are tied for seventh with an even-par 70 — Craig Rumora of Katy, Henry Coffman of Mansfield, Cypress’ Tim Carlton, formerly of Tyler; Richard Hageman of Garden Ridge and Bill Holstead of Wichita Falls.

Local golfers taking part include Jimmy Wheeler of Tyler (T12, 1-over 72), Reggie Howell of Tyler (T32, 3-over 74), Jerry Hudgins of Tyler (T32, 3-over 74), John Kennedy of Lufkin (T32, 3-over 74), Larry Wooldridge of Paris (T48, 4-over 75) and Steve Duffey of Tyler (T48, 4-over 75).

In the Super Senior Division, Arnold has three-stroke lead. Arnold, who won the Senior Amateur in 2007, went from a front nine total of 1-over par 37 to a back nine of 2-under 33.

“I like the golf course. It is a very traditional layout that if you hit it in play you will hit a lot of wedges, which is a strength of my game,” Arnold said.

Tylerite Andy Wall, a 15-time WBCC champion, is in the hunt. He had a 5-over 76 and is tied for sixth.

Tied for second at 2-over 73 are Chip Stewart of Dallas, Dick Visser of Houston and Gary Kirwan of McKinney. In fifth by himself is Don Grider of Georgetown with a 75.

Knotted with Wall are Ralph Ludwick of Pearland, LD Clopton of McAllen, Randy McCollum of Austin and Marshall Utterson of Houston.

Other East Texans in the tourney include: Coy Jones of Longview (T11, 77), Michael Hopson of Lufkin (T11, 77), Jon Schreiber of Whitehouse (T18, 78), Richard Ellis of Tyler (T24, 80), Jack Purl of Hideaway (T31, 81), Jerry Ransom of Greenville (T34, 82) and Doug Chandler of Lufkin (41, 84).

Former Green Bay Packer and Texas Tech All-American Donny Anderson of Dallas withdrew from the tourney.

After the second round is complete, there will be a cut to the low 48 and ties in the Senior division, while the Super Senior division will cut to the low 24 and ties.

Some 144 golfers are competing in the annual event, which is sponsored by the Texas Golf Association. This is the third time WBCC has hosted the prestigious event.