Karl Vilips leads Mexico Open after 62

Australian golfer Karl Vilips recorded the lowest round of his PGA Tour season with a nine-under 62 at the Mexico Open, securing the first-round lead.

Vilips started strongly with five consecutive birdies and maintained his form with four more in the final stretch, finishing with a total of 10 birdies and one bogey.

The 25-year-old, who was cut in nine of his previous 20 tournaments, rebounded spectacularly in Mexico to hold a one-stroke lead at the Vidanta Vallarta course.

Vilips, who won the Puerto Rico Open last year, is exempt on the PGA Tour though next season and currently ranks 141st in the FedEx Cup Fall standings.

Japan's Kensei Hirata is one stroke behind Vilips after a round of seven-under, while Americans Ben Griffin and Jeffrey Kang, along with Englishman Marco Penge, share third place at seven-under.

US Open champion Wyndham Clark, the only top-10 world-ranked player in the field, shot 69, while John Daly II, playing on a sponsor exemption, carded 70.