MIAMI (AFP) — Late birdies lifted Cameron Young and Davis Thompson into a share of the clubhouse lead alongside rookie Eric Cole on Thursday in the rain-disrupted first round of the PGA Tour RSM Classic.

Young capped his round at soggy St. Simons Island, Georgia, with back-to-back birdies at the eighth and ninth, finishing with six birdies in his six-under-par 66.

He managed to stay bogey-free despite finding water at the 12th, promptly responding to the near-miss with birdies at 14, 15 and 16.

"The old chunk hook into the water off the tee with the driver happens here and there," Young said.

"Obviously (making) that and making some birdies right after, was proud of that for sure."

"The one on nine to finish the day was nice. It was getting pretty dark, it's just a very flat light, it's hard to read the greens, so to make a nice like seven- or eight-footer there was nice," added Young, who is in search of a first PGA Tour title after six runner-up finishes in his last two seasons."

Start of play was delayed for an hour after overnight rain, and play was halted again after more showers left puddles standing on some greens on the Seaside and Plantation courses, both in use for the event.