Phil Pleat of Nashua shot a six-over-par 37-39—76 in the opening round of the United States Senior Open Championship at the Indianwood Golf and Country Club in Lake Orion, Michigan Thursday.

Starting the round on the 10th tee, Pleat started strong, gaining his only birdie on the par 4, 10th hole. But he bogeyed the next three holes and made the turn at two over.

More trouble awaited him on the front nine. Pleat bogeyed the par 5 first hole followed by three straight bogeys on holes four, five and six to eventually fall six over on the day.

Pleat, an amateur, was grouped with professionals Joel Edwards (32-40—72) of Irving, Texas and Kiyoshi Murota (36-35—71) of Japan.

Last year at the United States Senior Amateur at the Kinloch Golf Club in Manakin-Sabot, Va., Pleat finished runner-up in the tournament, allowing him to qualify for the U.S. Senior Open.