Round 1 Notes: Legends Reno-Tahoe Open

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• There are 25 international players at this week's event representing 25 countries, led by Australia with nine in the field. The Aussies took control Thursday, with Rod Pampling leading the tournament after a 5-under 67. Australian Marc Leishman shot a 68, with James Nitties and Steve Elkington, along with New Zealand's Grant Waite.

• Prior to Pampling's lead on the strength of a 67, the worst opening-round score by a leader was a 6-under 66 in three different years. In 2000, Peter Jacobsen and Scott McCarron were the first-day leaders with 66s. In 2003, 66s by J.J. Henry and Carl Paulson gave them the lead after the first round. A year later, Roland Thatcher's 66 left him atop the leaderboard.

• This week's Kodak Challenge hole is the par-3 16th. The Kodak Challenge is a year-long event where one hole at selected tournaments is chosen and players who have played at least 18 of the 30 Kodak Challenge holes are eligible to win. Scores are tabulated based on the players' lowest scores relative to par on the hole for the week. The hole ranked as the most-difficult hole in the first round, playing to a stroke average of 3.351. There were eight birdies at No. 16 Thursday. Players in the top 10 of the standings who are playing in the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open this week are (with their Thursday score in parentheses) Nicholas Thompson (par), Dean Wilson (par), Chris DiMarco (bogey), Jason Gore (bogey) and J.J. Henry (par).

• On his way to a 68 and a tie for second, Spencer Levin had a run of five birdies in six holes beginning on his fifth hole (No. 14). Levin then birdied Nos. 15, 17, 18 and 1, with a par at No. 16. Levin is working on five consecutive rounds at par or better in the tournament. He also played here in 2005, tying for 27th.

• After picking up two eagles a year ago in the third round, at Nos. 4 and 11, Jonathan Byrd added another eagle Thursday, making a 10-foot putt after reaching the par-5 fourth in two. Byrd has four total eagles at this tournament, also making eagle at No. 4 in 2002.

• Spike McRoy was the only player in the field to record two eagles Thursday. He made 103 feet worth of putts for the two eagles. McRoy's first came at the fourth hole, where he made a 66-foot bomb. His last shot of the day was a 37-foot putt on No. 9 (his 18th hole). Kevin Streelman made two eagles last year in the first round, also on the fourth and ninth holes.

• Mark Brooks holed out from the fairway from 126 yards on No. 1. It is only the second eagle at the hole. Andrew Magee made eagle there in the second round in 2000.

• Two-time Legends Reno-Tahoe Open champion Vaughn Taylor (2004 and 2005) opened with a 4-under 68 to leave him tied for first. Taylor is looking to become the first player since Leonard Gallett to have his first three PGA TOUR titles all come at the same event. Gallett won the Wisconsin PGA Championship in 1929, 1933 and 1934 for his only three PGA TOUR wins.

• Jonathan Kaye opened Thursday with a 4-under 68 to make him a combined 46-under in Reno in 23 rounds. He's made the cut five times and has three top-10 finishes, including a pair of runner-up performances in 2002 and 2005. Kaye's lowest 18-hole round at Montreux is a 66, something he's done three times (1999, 2001 and 2005).

• The PGA Championship is next week, and five former champions of the season's final major are in this week's field. They are Steve Elkington (1995), Rich Beem (2002), Shaun Micheel (2003), Mark Brooks (1996) and Paul Azinger (1993). Three from the group -- Azinger, Elkington and Micheel are tied for ninth after opening with 69s.

• Greg Chalmers made a nice recovery to his round after a tough start Thursday. Chalmers bogeyed the first hole and triple-bogeyed the third hole, making him 4-over through three holes. After that, Chalmers recorded five birdies against one bogey to finish at even par, tied for ninth.

• Besides Taylor, the other past Legends Reno-Tahoe Open champs in the field this week are defending champion Parker McLachlin, Steve Flesch (2007), Will MacKenzie (2006) Kirk Triplett (2003) and Chris Riley (2002). Taylor led the way, with his 68 (tied for second), McLachlin fired a 69 (tied for ninth), Flesch had a 71 (tied for 26th), Triplett opened with a 74 (tied for 82nd) and MacKenzie shot a 77 (tied for 115th).

• Rocco Mediate is back at Montreux Golf and Country Club for the first time since 2005. In four previous starts in the event, his best finish a tie for 27th in 2000. He is tied for 18th after shooting an opening-round, 2-under 70. Mediate needs a victory here to earn a start in next week's PGA Championship.

• Starting on the back nine Thursday, DiMarco got his round off to a quick start with an eagle at the par-5 11th. He finished at even-par 72. DiMarco hasn't played at the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open since 2000 in what is his only appearance. That year, DiMarco tied for 21st.

• There was only one bogey-free round Thursday, by Rich Barcelo.

• There are 29 players competing for the first time at the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open. Here is how they're faring after the first round:

• Brian Bateman withdrew from the tournament after nine holes due to a shoulder injury.