The Bay of Plenty golfer Bradley Iles is tied for 6th only two shots from the lead after an opening round of 67 at the Nationwide Tour's Knoxville Open in Tennessee.
The veteran New Zealander Grant Waite had a 69.
Meanwhile the world number two Phil Mickelson is back on the PGA tour, and in form after a 68 on the first day of the St Jude Classic in Memphis, Tennessee.
Mickelson's been off the tour since his wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer a month ago.
