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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- In 2006, Justin Bolli shot four consecutive rounds of 6-uder-par 66 to finish at 24-under at the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr. Pepper and yet he finished the tournament tied for third.

Justin Bolli kick-started his round with an eagle. (WireImage)

So this year, Bolli shot a first-round 7-under-par 65 for a one-stroke lead at one of four remaining pioneer events from the original Nationwide Tour schedule in 1990.

"I guess 65 will be a better number to be stuck on this year," said the University of Georgia graduate. "Everything about this course fits my eye. I have a great idea of where I am going to hit the ball off of every tee here."

The winner of the 2004 Chattanooga Classic eagled the par 5 547-yard first hole to start his day and went on to play the four par 5s at 5-under for his round.

"Most the par 5s are reachable," he said. "You have to get after them if you want to contend on this course."

Behind two top-10 finishes, Bolli ranks 20th on the money list this season. He led the Ft. Smith Classic by three strokes heading into the final round, but a 2-under-par 70 put him at T2.

Bolli will have to continue to score well if he wants to earn his second Nationwide Tour victory as Hunter Haas, Michael Letzig, Jason Allred, Tom Scherrer, Justin Hicks and Mark Walker are all one stroke off the lead.

Haas, 30, began working with his instructor, Rick Neal, when he was 14 year old. After playing through wrist, elbow and leg problems this year, Haas was happy when the Nationwide Tour touched down in Neal's hometown of Springield, MO. After what Haas described as a much-needed hands-on session with his coach, the University of Oklahoma graduate shot a bogey-free 6-under-par 66 on Thursday.

"I came in and stayed at his place. We worked on a few things I've been missing lately," Haas said. "I've never used anyone else. I should probably see him a lot more. After today's round, I should see him more frequently. We just fixed a few little things, but it worked."

Letzig is ranked no. 21 on the Nationwide Tour money list and inside 'The 25."Although this is officially the 27-year-old's rookie season on tour, this week marks the fifth time that the Richmond, MO, native has played in this event. In his four previous visits, after either Monday qualifying or playing on sponsor's exemptions, Letzig made three cuts and finished 5th in 2004.

"I have a lot of good thoughts out here. I've played this course a number of times and it really fits my game," Letzig said. "I have a good spot on the money list right now, but I feel like I can be more consistent. It's hard to stay patient out here sometimes because I know I can play better."

Allred and Sherrer were both in the first group out in the afternoon as they each shot 66 on a relatively cool day compared to last year when temperatures broke 103 degrees.

"We had a great group. We all fed off of each other," Allred said. "One of the keys to my golf game is enjoying myself, so today was great."

At a course known for hosting some of the lowest scores of the year each season on the Nationwide Tour, players will have to shoot consistently low to stay in the hunt all four rounds. Highland Springs Country Club has ranked in the top three easiest courses in each of the past four seasons.

"I shot 20-under here once and finished second. You know you are going to have to make birdies," said Vance Veasey who was in the group of eight golfers two strokes off the lead at 5-under. "This is the PGA TOUR-extended. The talent level on this tour is too good to lose focus, especially on a course like this."

First Round News & Notes: Justin Bolli, Hunter Haas, Jason Allred, Justin Hicks, Scott Sterling, Chad Collins, Troy Kelly, Ramon Bescansa and Matthew Jones shot bogey-free rounds on Thursday.... Thursday's scoring average of 71.503 ranks as the second highest first-round scoring average in the last six years of the tournament....

The par-5 11th hole played as the easiest hole of the day playing .490 strokes under par with a 4.510 average. The 9th hole was the most difficult at .333 strokes over par.