Camilo Villegas chipped in from the rough to eagle the par-four second on his way to a scintillating nine-under-par 63 and a three-shot lead in the Buick Invitational first round Thursday. The 27-year-old Colombian also piled up eight birdies against a lone bogey on the undulating North Course, the easier of the two par-72 layouts hosting the fifth event on the PGA Tour. Despite the challenge of blustery conditions and bumpy greens, Villegas matched his lowest score on the US circuit to surge three ahead of American Davis Love III and Australian Aaron Baddeley. “It was a pretty fun day,” the world number 11 told reporters after covering his back nine in a blistering five-under 31. “Two chip-ins, that certainly helps. But even if you take them out, I played pretty good. I drove it nicely, I hit some great shots and left myself some good opportunities. “It was not easy to have a good short game on that golf course today,” said Villegas, who broke through into the top flight last year by winning the final two playoff events of the PGA Tour's FedExCup. “The greens are bumpy and you've just got to be really committed to your line. And that's exactly what I did today.” Australian Stuart Appleby opened with a 68 on the North Course to lie five strokes off the pace with Americans Jeff Overton and Robert Garrigus. Three-time winner Phil Mickelson, who lives in nearby Rancho Santa Fe, carded a 70 on the South Course after ending a breezy day at the coastal venue in steady rain. Retief Goosen of South Africa opened with a 71 on the North Course while Britain's Luke Donald carded a 70 on the South layout.
