Billy Mayfair takes opening honours

American Billy Mayfair produced an eagle-birdie finish to establish a two-point first round lead over Brandt Jobe at the rain-delayed International at Castle Rock, Colorado on Friday.

With the first round pushed back a day because of heavy rain, Mayfair's his five birdies and an eagle translated into 15 points under the modified Stableford scoring system being used at the $5 million event.

The key to Mayfair's round was 44-foot put for eagle on the par-five 17th that was worth five points propelling him to the top of the leaderboard.

"I got off to a good start, birdied four of the first six holes," said Mayfair. "(I) had eight points there for a while and played the middle holes pretty well but just couldn't get any of the putts to go in.

"I just kind of stayed patient.

"The 17th is a very exciting hole, I think we saw how fast everything can change there. I'm eight, all of a sudden I finish plus 15 the last two holes.

"I'm going to play the same way tomorrow. Just keep playing as aggressive as I can."

Jobe had six birdies, worth two points each, on his scoreboard but offset that with a double-bogey worth minus-three and a bogey worth minus-one before he carded an eagle on 17.

D.A. Points used eagles on the first and 17th to grab a share of third with Charles Howell III on 12 points.

Australia's Geoff Ogilvy and Tim Petrovic are on 11 points.

World number four Phil Mickelson, a two-time winner of the International, mixed four birdies with five bogeys to leave him on three points with Spain's Sergio Garcia.

South Africa's Retief Goosen, a late addition to the field and playing in his first PGA Tour event since his final round meltdown at the U.S. Open, had birdies on his two opening holes to go four up but then stalled and finished with seven points.

Champion Rod Pampling of Australia had five points after the opening round.

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