Harrison Endycott has kept alive his flickering hopes of retaining his full PGA Tour status with a spirited start to the RSM Classic in Georgia.
Endycott birdied the last two holes to eke out a one-under-par 71 in the first round at the weather-hit tournament on Sea Island.
Languishing in 140th position on the season-long points standing entering the final event of FedExCup Fall series, Endycott needs to drag himself into the top 125 to keep his full PGA Tour card.
Nothing less than a top-four finish will suffice for the rookie Australian after a disappointing first year on the world's most lucrative circuit.
But the 27-year-old at least rallied after chalking up a double-bogey and two bogeys mid-round to be over par and quickly heading south on the leaderboard.
Endycott is tied for 63rd, but only five shots behind American co-leaders Eric Cole, Cameron Young and Davis Thompson, and just four out of fourth spot.
Aaron Baddeley is the best-placed Australian, in a tie for 34th after starting with a two-under 70.
Greg Chalmers opened with a six-over shocker, while fellow veteran Cameron Percy was even par through 12 holes before play was suspended for the day.
Percy is among 90 players in the 155-man field needing to complete their rounds when play resumes on Friday morning.
Thursday's and Friday's rounds are split between Sea Island Golf Club's Seaside and Plantation courses.
Young, Cole and Thompson all shot 66 at the Plantation course, with Young and Thompson going bogey-free.
Matt Kuchar shot a five-under 65 on the Seaside course, and Ricky Barnes and Swedish rising star Ludvig Aberg had five-under 67s at the Plantation course.
Ben Carr, Peter Kuest and Nicholas Lindheim are also tied at five under with some golf left to play.
Pre-tournament favourite Young, ranked No.18 in the Official World Golf Ranking, is still hunting for his first career PGA Tour win.
With Reuters
