" />Aaron Baddeley began the new United States PGA Tour season with a bang at Napa, California today, opening with a brilliant 68 to be within two shots of the lead.
Baddeley had a hot-cold day but made seven birdies to move within two of South Korea's Sang-Moon Bae and American Andrews Gonzalez through the first round of the Frys.com Open.
The Australian missed a short birdie putt at the par-five 18th hole that would have given him a 67; he also had to regret a double bogey at the ninth hole.
Stuart Appleby and Cameron Percy also made promising starts with opening 69s, Appleby continuing his surge from late in the previous season.
Percy, who is back on the main tour after qualifying through the web.com tour, also shot a first-round 69 to be in a tie for 13th place.
Victorian Jarrod Lyle, who Monday-qualified for the tournament on his return to the PGA Tour, began with a solid 72.
On the LPGA Tour, Karrie Webb carded an opening 70 in the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia tournament to be five off the pace through the first round.
World No. 1 Stacy Lewis of the United States is the first-round leader.
Queensland's Katherine Kirk carded an opening 71 to be six off the pace.