Andres Gonzales and Sang-Moon Bae of South Korea shot 6-under-par 66s to share the lead after one round of the Frys.com Open, the first PGA Tour event of the 2014-15 season, on the North Course at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa.
The 31-year-old Gonzales, who won the Utah Championship on the Web.com Tour last year and qualified for the big tour for the third time, carded seven birdies, including three on the last five holes.
“My game has improved and I’m better prepared to stay here,” said Gonzales, who is from Olympia, Wash., and played college golf at UNLV. “I’m driving the ball in play a lot more instead of hunting for it in the weeds. I’m just trying to stay positive.
“My game was more consistent last year and I felt I played better than my results indicated. I just have to keep improving. I’m excited to be back out here again with the best players in the world.”
Bae, who won the 2013 HP Byron Nelson Championship for his only PGA Tour victory, posted five birdies on the front nine and then holed a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole to pull even with Gonzales.
Martin Laird of Scotland, who started on the back nine, had four birdies in a span of five holes through No. 3 in a bogey-free-round of 67 that left him in solo third.
Charlie Beljan holed his third shot from 70 yards for an eagle on the 16th hole and birdied the last two to close out a 68 to tie for fourth with Luke Guthrie, David Lingmerth of Sweden, Colt Knost, Brooks Koepka, Aaron Baddeley of Australia, Kyle Reifers, Tyron Van Aswegen of South Africa and Jon Curran. Defending champion Jimmy Walker opened with a 75.
