Paul Casey three shots behind leader Dominic Bozzelli after first round USA-based Englishmen Paul Casey and Greg Owen were just three shots off the pace at the CareerBuilder Challenge as American rookie Dominic Bozzelli claimed the first-round lead in La Quinta.
Web.com Tour graduate Bozzelli had six birdies and holed his approach from 110 yards on the 14th for eagle to shoot an eight-under-par 64 on the Stadium Course.
The first three rounds are split over three courses before a 54-hole cut, and Venezuela's former winner Jhonattan Vegas and American Patton Kizzire both made seven-under 65s on the Nicklaus Tournament layout.
After another gain on the 18th, Bozzelli finished with four birdies in his last six holes - the highlight a 22-footer on the sixth.
Casey made six birdies against a single bogey on the La Quinta course for a 67 that left him in a share of 11th, alongside compatriot Greg Owen.
"I'll take it," said the former European Ryder Cup star after gains at the fifth, sixth, eighth, 11th, 16th and 18th.
"It was really good; it wasn't fun starting out with that rain but we got lucky that it laid off. I'm very happy to get off to a decent start because you know that scoring is going to be low this week.
"The ball striking feels good, the putting is something that I'm always working on because there is an opportunity for it to be so much better and it was poor last week."
Scot Martin Laird is T25 after a 68 at the Nicklaus Tournament venue.
Five-time major winner Phil Mickelson was a shot behind Casey and Owen on four under, but defending champion Jason Dufner could only manage a one under 71.
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