Seamus Power is six shots off the lead after shooting a 66 in the opening round at the Sanderson Farms Championship.
The Waterford man started strongly with a birdie on the 10th, continuing in that vein with further gains on 14, 15 and 17.
He continued to prosper after the turn with three birdies in succession on four, five and six before dropping his only shot of Thursday's round on seven.
England's David Skinns shot a flawless 60 to lead by three strokes.
The 42-year-old carded 12 birdies without dropping a shot to soar to the top of the leaderboard ahead of American Michael Thorbjornsen.
"Great to see a couple go in that maybe some days don't," Skinns said after his round.
"Just kind of catapulted, and I was able to keep the momentum going, which is what I was most pleased about.
"I never really thought about the score too much, just where I was going to hit the next shot."
The US duo of Gary Woodland and Ben Griffin sit equal third on eight under par.
A group of nine players sit a shot further back.
