Australia's Aaron Baddeley fired an eight-under-par 64 in the opening round of the PGA Tour's Sanderson Farms Championship, only to be upstaged by leader Roberto Castro who went two shots better.
It was a welcome return to form for the world No.440, who is feeling good about his game.
"It was good, I putted really nice and hit a bunch of good iron shots as well so it gave me good looks," said Baddeley, who once cracked the world top 20.
"I putted really well and the putts I didn't make I actually thought I made, it's always a good sign when you miss them and it looks like they're going in so you just got to keep being patient and just try to make `em."
The Melburnian's round included six birdies and an eagle on the short-par four 15th, where he chipped in.
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"That was nice, that's a great little hole, the green slips away from you ... I hit a good drive up the left side, opened the green up and then hit a perfect little pitch and it rolled in there perfectly."
Baddeley had to be content with a tie for 2nd though, after Castro's sizzling 10-under-par 62 round.
Castro had stretches of five birdies from six holes on both the front and back nine in his bogey-free round on a soggy course where players were able to lift, clean and place balls following recent downpours.
Joining Baddeley in second was American Bryce Molder, one stroke better than Englishman Brian Davis and Canadian Adam Hadwin.
Molder reached seven-under with his birdie at the 10th but managed just two more birdies the rest of the way.
"I was thinking 'let's keep the pedal down' and had some opportunities but they didn't fall," said Molder.
Bunched at six-under 66 were Canadian Graham DeLaet, Andres Romero of Argentina, Venezuela's Jhonattan Vegas and Americans Andrew Loupe and Michael Kim.
First-round play was suspended due to darkness with nine players still on the course.
While more celebrated players were contesting the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai, Castro took aim at his first PGA win at an event that has crowned eight first-time winners including former world No.1 Luke Donald in 2002.
Castro's 62 on Thursday marked a career best round for him.
