Three birdies on each of the nines on Thursday gave MJ Daffue the impetus for his opening five-under-par 66 in the Korn Ferry Tour’s Memorial Health Championship at Panther Creek Country Club in Springfield, Illinois.

He picked up two birdies in the first two holes, and a third before the turn on the sixth. After the turn, he dropped a shot on the 12th, but made three more birdies on the way home to finish the first round in a share of 12th.

At five-under, he was three strokes off the lead which was held at eight-under by American Luke Guthrie. There were four players in a share of second on seven-under, and six players on six-under in a share of sixth. Daffue shared 12th with 12 other players.

Barend Botha was in a share of 79th on one-under-par, and Christo Lamprecht battled to three-over 74 to be right near the bottom of the leaderboard in a share of 141st.