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No player from the afternoon group could match Brendan Steele's opening 9-under 63 at the Frys.com Open, but the best effort came from an unexpected candidate: Martin Laird.
The Scot pieced together a bogey-free round on the Silverado CC North Course, taking him to an opening 7-under 65 and tied for third with Harold Varner III. It was a day of bursts for Laird, who opened with three straight pars and suddenly came alive with three birdies in his next four holes. On No. 12 tee, Laird still stood 3 under, but then went on to birdie four of his next six holes.