LUMBERTON — John Haskins and Larry Cloninger are tied with Kyle Covington and Tommy Britt with scores of 11-under 61 after Saturday’s first round of the 32nd Kiwanis All-American Golf Tournament at Pinecrest Country Club.

Haskins, who is the head coach of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke women’s basketball team, was still on the putting green two hours after finishing with a personal-best individual round of 65.

“We’ve finished second twice but never won this thing,” Haskins said. “I had a good brother-in-law teammate today and we were able to birdie a lot of holes. Hopefully, we can play well (today) and win this thing.”

Covington was the hottest golfer through the front nine, scoring birdies on four of the first five holes and finishing with nine on the day. His 63 was also an individual best.

“We didn’t have to worry about bogeys today,” Covington said. “Last year, I didn’t give Tommy (Britt) much help, but I was able to make a few putts today and he played excellent.”

Britt contributed six birdies and along with Covington is in a great position to capture their first team championship.

Defending champions Jay Floyd and Steve Pippin are in the hunt, sitting at two strokes off the lead following a 9-under 63 on the par-72, 6,578-yard course. The pair birdied the final three holes to pull closer to the leaders entering today’s final round.

“Some days the putts fall and sometimes they don’t,” said Floyd following a individual run of three birdies through the front nine holes. “Steve (Pippin) helped me out today and picked up some of my slack.”

Pippin struggled through the front nine with a pair of double bogeys on Nos. 1 and 9, but he responded after the turn. Pippin knocked in a birdie on No. 10, an eagle on No. 11 and another birdie on No. 12 to lead the pair with a 6-under 30 on the back nine.

Pippin admitted to feeling the pressure a bit after winning the team title in 2008.

“We sort of came out of nowhere last year and won,” Pippin said. “I have a partner that’s playing like a champion and I’m just trying to keep pace.”

Six-time champion Dyrck Fanning and two-time champ Scott Benton are tied for third with a 7-under 65 and will be in today’s championship flight. Fanning hit a great tee shot on No. 10, leaving the ball within five feet of the pin.

Today’s championship flight includes nine teams who will begin play at 12:32 p.m. Covington, Britt, Haskins and Cloninger tee of at 1:04.

The two-day charity tournament is being played under best-ball, no-handicap guidelines from the championship tees. A total of 70 teams began play in an event designed to raise money for local organizations that benefit children.

Three-time champion Nick McKeithan and teammate Mike McKeithan headline the top of the first flight after firing a 4-under 68 and four groups are tied at the top of the second flight after posting 72s.

The event’s youngest golfer, 13-year-old Thomas Miller, scored pars on 10 of 18 holes. His signature shot was a chip on the 17th hole from just beyond the bunker to save par with a short putt.

“I thought I played pretty well today even though the greens were a tad slow,” Miller said. “I don’t remember if this was my best round or not, but I’m just glad to be out here playing.”

Miller, who is entering the eighth grade at Southeastern Academy, and his mother, Stephanie, combined to shoot a 2-over 74.