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Reifers on a high after opening round of Zurich Classic

PGA Tour rookie Kyle Reifers fired a course-record eight-under-par 64 to charge to the lead after Thursday's first round of the US$6.1 million Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Reifers, a 23-year-old unknown who played most of last season on the Nationwide Tour, enjoyed the low round of his career, recording a bogey-free round that featured eight birdies.

Reifers was two shots in front of former British Open champion Mark Calcavecchia, who started on the back nine and posted a 66.

It was a further shot back to a group of four players that included 2005 winner Tim Petrovic. Tom Johnson, Lucas Glover, Jason Schultz also shot 67.

Defending champion Chris Couch was tied for 77th after an even 72. He started slowly with a double-bogey and a bogey among his first four holes.

After being moved last year because of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, the event is back at the TPC Louisiana, a course that plays 7,341 yards.

Nearly 2,000 trees were lost due to the storm and a number of holes were completely under water.

It took more than a year to get the course back into shape.

Three of Reifers' birdies came at the course's four par-five holes, where Reifer said he made a conscious effort not to be overly aggressive.

"I played them a little more conservatively, but played my angles a lot better and gave myself a lot of good looks," he said. "I can kind of feel my game coming around."

Reifers also birdied the par-three ninth hole, where he knocked a six-iron three feet from the pin.

He didn't know until after the round that he had broken the course record of 65, which was shot by both Chris DiMarco and India's Arjun Atwal in 2005.

"It doesn't really mean much to me right now," he admitted. "At the end of the week, hopefully it will mean a lot."

If Reifers can continue, he has a chance to become the fifth player to claim his first tour title at this event in the past six years.
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