Australia’s Stuart Appleby shot six birdies on Thursday to be tied 16th after the first round of the US PGA Tour’s Reno-Tahoe Open in Nevada.

Continuing his encouraging form from last week’s Canadian Open, Appleby sits on the equivalent of three-under par – but eight points under the rarely-used modified stableford scoring system.

Players get eight points for a double eagle, five for an eagle, two for a birdie, nothing for a par, minus one for a bogey and minus three for double bogey or worse.

Appleby lost ground after carding a double bogey on the 16th but remains the best-placed Australian.

Argentina’s Andres Romero shot an impressive bogey-free round for 14 points to hold a one-point lead over Noh Seung-yul of South Korea.

Tour rookie Noh, 21, had seven birdies and a bogey for 13 points at Montreux Golf & Country Club.

Josh Teater, John Mallinger and Ricky Barnes were tied for third with 11 points.

John Daly was in a group another point back after carding six birdies and two bogeys.

New Zealand’s Danny Lee was tied with Daly and three others after posting six birdies and two bogeys.

It’s the first time in six years the scoring system has been used on the US PGA Tour.