Kevin Kisner leads RSM Classic by one stroke

Kevin Kisner took advantage of home comforts and a receptive layout to maintain his sizzling early season form and surge one shot clear in Thursday`s (November 19) opening round of the RSM Classic in St. Simons Island, Georgia.

The 31-year-old American, who came close to winning a maiden PGA Tour title at the elite WGC-HSBC Champions in China earlier this month before finishing second, fired a sparkling seven-under-par 65 on the Plantation Course at Sea Island Golf Club.

Kisner eagled the par-five eighth, his penultimate hole, to end the day one ahead of compatriots Jim Herman, Kyle Stanley, Kevin Chappell, Scott Stallings, Jeff Overton, Tom Hoge, Canadian David Hearn and South Korea`s Kim Si-woo.

Herman, Stanley, Chappell, Stallings and Kim all carded six-under 66s on the Plantation Course while Overton and Hoge returned six-under 64s on the Seaside Course.

Kisner, who was the 36-hole leader at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai before finishing two shots behind Scotland`s Russell Knox, feasted on a generous set-up at the Plantation Course.

British Open champion Zach Johnson, the world number 10 who is the highest-ranked player in the field, opened with a two-under 70 on the Plantation layout.

Tournament host Davis Love III, who played with his 21-year-old son Dru on the Seaside Course, also carded 70, a score matched by his amateur son.