Billy Andrade fired a five-under-par 66 to take the lead after the first round of the Pennsylvania Classic on Thursday.

The 38-year-old American leads by a stroke from compatriots JJ Henry and Kenneth Staton.

Australian Mathew Goggin and American Donnie Hammond are tied for fourth after carding 68s, with a group of nine players a stroke further back.

Andrade said that the Waynesborough Country Club reminded him of courses back home in Bristol, Rhode Island.

"I just liked the golf course immediately," he said.

"You have to hit a lot of good shots off a lot of these tees and keep the ball in play and usually when I keep the ball in play, I can play fairly well."

Henry, who has a habit of playing his best golf towards the end of the season, was pleased to be right on Andrade's tail.

"I haven't pinpointed what it is," he said. "I probably put too much pressure on myself starting the year because I did have a nice rookie year and wanted to get off to a good start this year.

"But I stayed patient and now I'm kind of reaping the benefits of some good rounds and hopefully I will continue to do it pretty much throughout the rest of the year."

Staton was a late finisher and was delighted to have got away to a good start for once.

"It seems like every time I look forward to a tournament and I'm ready to go and I prepare myself, I shoot just a mediocre round the first round," he said.

"Getting off to a fast start is something new for me this year," added Staton, who has missed 19 out of 28 cuts this season and has only one top-10 finish.

First-round leaderboard (USA unless stated):

66 Billy Andrade
67 JJ Henry, Kenneth Staton
68 Mathew Goggin (Aus), Donnie Hammond
69 John Senden (Aus), Carlos Franco (Par), Michael Clark II, Brent Geiberger, Rodney Pampling (Aus), Jeff Brehaut, Brian Bateman, Brett Quigley, Paul Goydos
70 Ed Fryatt (Gbr), Chris Smith, Ian Leggatt (Can), Jess Daley, Brad Lardon, Bill Glasson, John Rollins, Len Mattiace, Stephen Gangluff

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