Mike Hulbert, in his first competitive round of the year, surprised himself by shooting a tournament-leading eight-under-par 63 in the first round of the Phoenix Open on Thursday. Hulbert was a stroke ahead of Steve Stricker and Brent Geiberger after the first day at the TPC at Scottsdale.

Defending champion Steve Jones, who won by 11 strokes last year, was at six-under 65 along with David Duval and Larry Rinker.

A 30-minute frost delay at the start of the round forced the tournament to suspend play for darkness with five players still on the course. Larry Mize, at two under, was the leading player among the groups stranded.

Stricker's bogey-free 64 was his best round since July 1996. He had a career season that year, with two wins and a fourth place finish on the money list, but last year fell to 130th in earnings.