Zurich Classic R1 Leaderboard: Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer take lead with record round

Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer matched the low 18-hole fourballs score on day one at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana.

Smalley and Springer's opening round of 14-under 59 matches last year's first round score from Isaiah Salinda and Kevin Velo.

Smalley and Springer made 12 birdies and an eagle on the par-five second during their joint-record round. 

They open up a narrow one-shot lead on their compatriots Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat, who were one of our expert picks at 28/1 this week. 

Sam Stevens and Zach Bauchou, and Eric Cole and Hank Lebioda are a further shot back in a tie for third on 12-under par.

Smalley and Springer are both going in search of their first PGA Tour titles.

A victory this Sunday will still give players all the typical perks, including a priceless two-year exemption. 

Teams are playing for a prize purse of $9.5m, with both winners earning $1,372,750. 

Matt Fitzpatrick and Alex Fitzpatrick both inexplicably found the water with their second shots into the par-five 18th, and it led to their sole bogey in a round of eight-under par. 

Defending champions Ben Griffin and Andrew Novak are a further shot back on seven-under par, with pre-tournament favourites Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka back on six-under par. 

The first round was fourballs, the much easier of the two formats.

Friday's second round is foursomes, the tougher alternate-shot format.