Co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, the tournament uses the Modified Stableford scoring system. Five points are awarded for eagle and two for birdie, while a point is deducted for bogey and three for double bogey.

"It's first time ever make three eagles," Noh said. "It's just so much fun to play today."

The 32-year-old South Korean also had five birdies and two bogeys on the par-71 Old Greenwood layout in California on Thursday. He won the 2014 Zurich Classic of New Orleans for his lone PGA Tour title.

"It's just the first day, but still a lot of confidence," Noh said.

American Beau Hossler is second with 17 points. He made a hole-in-one on the par-3 3rd and an eagle on the par-5 6th on his final nine.

"I was kind of in between clubs," Hossler said about the ace.

"I think it was like 211 (yards), but at altitude it's playing like 190. I hit 7-iron and it landed in a good spot and it went in."

Compatriot Ryan Gerard and Frenchman Alexander Levy are tied for third with 16 points, while Carson Young, Patrick Rodgers and German Maximilian Kieffer had 15 points.

"It's a different format, but it's nice to play like this sometimes," Levy said.

"You just focus to hitting good shots and just see what happens."

Jason Scrivener is the best-placed Australian in a tie for 37th with eight points. Harrison Endycott (+7 points), Geoff Ogilvy (+6), Aaron Baddeley (+5), Greg Chalmers (+1) and Grant Booth (-3) are also in the 156-player field.

2006 U.S Open winner Ogilvy, who won the 2014 Barracuda title for the last of his 12 professional victories, had five birdies and four bogeys, while defending champion Chez Reavie had seven points.