Ireland’s Seamus Power rallied back from a slow start to shoot an opening round of five-under-par 66 on day one of the Biltmore Championship in Asheville.
The Waterford man, who missed the cut at last week’s Amgen Irish Open in Doonbeg, finished his round just two shots back of the clubhouse lead, shared by Eric Cole and Max Greyserman.
Power made an early bogey on the par five third hole, paying the price for an errant tee shot and having to take a penalty drop. Yet, from there, he never looked back.
Birdies followed at four and five, with another at the par five eighth hole as Power made the turn in 33 shots, at two-under-par.
Another birdie followed at the tenth, stitching an iron to three feet for his three. In a measured back nine, Power took advantage of the remaining par fives, at 15 and 17, to get into the clubhouse at five-under.
Cole and Greyserman hold the early lead at seven under, with Power two back in a tie for seventh place.