Lamely leads the Puerto Rico Open

• Tweet

RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico, March 12 (UPI) -- Derek Lamely shot 6-under-par 66 Thursday and shares the first-round lead with Jason Day at the Puerto Rico Open in Rio Grande.

The duo is one-stroke ahead of Kevin Stadler, Bryce Molder, Bart Bryant, Cliff Kresge and Michael Bradley at the Trump International Golf Club.

Lamely, one of four players who qualified for the final slots in the field on Monday, is making his second PGA Tour start this month after missing the cut at the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Quintana Roo, Mexico two weeks ago.

He was able to recover from back-to-back bogeys at the 12th and 13th by making birdies at three of his final five holes.

"This is what I've wanted to do since I can't tell you when," he said. "I hit some good chips to help me save par on a couple holes to really kind of keep me going."

There were 18 players tied for 14th at 3-under 69, including U.S. Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin.