SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. ? Steve Lowery shot a 6-under-par 65 in the morning, and Alex Cejka matched it at nightfall to share the first-round lead at the FBR Open on Thursday.

Lowery, winner of two PGA events but none since 2000, ran off four straight birdies on holes 14-17 on a par-71, 7,216-yard Tournament Players Championship course hardened by a record 106 days without rain.

Brent Geiberger, James Driscoll, Jerry Smith and Bo Van Pelt were one back at 5-under 66. Four golfers will finish their rounds this morning. Because of darkness, they were given the option to stop playing and resume today.

Mark Calcavecchia, a three-time winner of what used to be called the Phoenix Open, was one of 12 at 4-under 67 after an erratic round of eight birdies and four bogeys, two of them on par-5s. Defending champion Phil Mickelson shot a 2-under 69 and was four back. Vijay Singh had to chip in from 35 feet on the 18th hole to finish at even-par 71.