(Sports Network) - Jeremy Roenick, a 500-goal scorer in the NHL, showed off his golf skills Friday while taking the lead at the American Century Championship. The $600,000 tournament is billed as the most prestigious and richest celebrity tournament in golf.

Roenick eagled the par-five 18th hole to finish the round with 26 points under the modified Stableford scoring system, one more point than fellow hockey great Brett Hull.

The 38-year-old Roenick, who played last season with the San Jose Sharks, shot a two-under 70 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course -- a round that included 11 pars, three birdies, the closing eagle and just three bogeys.

Under the modified Stableford scoring system, players are awarded 10 points for a double-eagle, eight points for a hole-in-one, six points for an eagle, three points for a birdie, one point for a par and zero points for a bogey. Two points are subtracted for each score of double-bogey or worse.

While Roenick was able to avoid the dreaded "double-bogey or worse" scores, Hull began his round with a double-bogey on the first hole. But, like Roenick, Hull also eagled the 18th hole to post a one-under 71 worth 25 points.

The out-of-hockey Hull was followed by fellow ex-NHL star Pierre Larouche, who was part of a four-way tie for third place at 23 points.

All three players tied with Larouche -- Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, retired NFL signal caller Mark Rypien and former pitcher Rick Rhoden -- have demonstrated their golfing prowess before.

Romo shot an 84 at Torrey Pines last month in an exhibition staged before the tough California course hosted the U.S. Open; Rypien won the first American Century Championship in 1990; and Rhoden, who has played professionally on the Champions Tour, has won this tournament six times.

The other former champions in the field also fared well.

Actor and singer Jack Wagner, the 2006 winner, had 18 points and was tied for 16th place with NFL great Lawrence Taylor. Defending champion and retired NFL quarterback Chris Chandler and four-time winner Dan Quinn, another retired hockey player, posted 17 points and were tied for 18th place.

Former NFL players Al Del Greco (14 points) and Billy Joe Tolliver (11 points) and NHL great Mario Lemieux (13 points) were also in the mix after the first of three scheduled rounds. They have combined to win four American Century Championships.

The event has raised more than $3 million since 1990. This year's beneficiary is the Lance Armstrong Foundation.









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