Craig Lile needed only 23 puts in his first-round 63 Thursday at Willow Creek. (Stan Badz/PGA TOUR/WireImage)

SANDY, Utah -- Franklin Langham and Craig Lile recorded matching 8-under 63s Thursday to move out to the early lead at the $500,000 Utah Championship, the 25th of 32 events on the 2007 Nationwide Tour schedule.

Langham and Lile equaled the previous tournament record, which was set on four occasions and most recently by Scott Gump during the second round in 2003. They currently hold a one-stroke advantage over Todd Demsey and Curtis Malm.

A 15-year veteran of both the PGA TOUR and Nationwide Tour, the 39-year-old Langham posted nine birdies and just one bogey on his scorecard to move out to his first lead of the season. Highlights of the former University of Georgia All-American's round included a 35-foot birdie putt on the par-3 fifth hole and three consecutive birdies on Nos. 16-18 to close out the round.

"It was a good day," said Langham, who hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation. "I scattered birdies all around. I had one three-putt bogey on the 14th hole, but other than that blemish it was a real solid round."

Langham, with Tour wins at the 1993 Permian Basin Open and the 2004 Rheem Classic, made his surge up the leaderboard thanks to a hot putter. His solid performance on the greens is nothing new -- he is currently ranked ninth on Tour in putting average.

"I've got good thoughts with the putter right now," said Langham, who ended the day with 25 putts. "I'm rolling it really well ... in fact, I think I was first in putting a couple of weeks ago in West Virginia."

Lile was even better with the flat stick -- needing just 23 putts at the par-71 Willow Creek Country Club.

"I played really well today," said Lile. "I got off to a good start with birdies on the first three holes and that set the tone for the rest of the day."

Lile is currently playing his rookie season on the PGA TOUR, but just eight made cuts in 17 appearances led to a 193rd place finish in the FedExCup standings -- leading to his teeing it up on the Nationwide Tour this week as opposed to taking part in the first-ever PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup.

"I haven't played very well this year on the PGA TOUR," said Lile. "I thought I would get overwhelmed (out there) but I haven't. I just haven't played very well."

Just as Parker McLachlin mentioned early in the week at the National Mining Association Pete Dye Classic, the comfortable surroundings of the Nationwide Tour are just what the doctor ordered for the 30-year-old native of Cape Town, South Africa.

"It is nice coming here this week because I feel comfortable," said Lile, who hit 13 of 18 greens in regulation. "I feel comfortable because I know where I'm going and I know what the course looks like ... as opposed to everything being experienced for the first time on the PGA TOUR."

Despite taking a few weeks off from the TOUR, Lile still realizes he'll have to play his best to prevail this week.

"Anybody who has played both Tours will tell you that the level of play is not all that different," said Lile. "It all comes down to your comfort level."

First-Round News & Notes: Daniel (68) and Boyd Summerhays (69) won the battle of the brothers on Thursday, besting Brenden (69) and Deane Pappas (72) and Tony (74) and Gipper Finau (74). ... Todd Demsey (64) won the 1998 Utah Open here at Willow Creek Country Club ... 2004 Ryder Cup participant Chris Riley, making his first Nationwide Tour appearance since winning the Rochester Area Charities Showdown at Somerby, opened with a 1-over 72. ... 2005 Presidents Cup International Team member Mark Hensby, making his first Nationwide Tour start since the 2003 Nationwide Tour Championship, posted a 4-under 67. ... Edward Loar (65) equaled the best nine-hole score in Utah Championship history with a 7-under 29 on the back nine. ... Franklin Langham's only other first-round lead on Tour came at the 1997 Upstate Classic, where he eventually finished in 15th place. Craig Lile has also held the first-round lead once in his career, going on to finish fourth at the 2006 PalmettoPride Classic. ... David Hearn and Keith Nolan hit all 12 fairways on Thursday. ... Through the first 24 events, Martin Laird (Athens Regional Foundation Classic) and Kyle Thompson (Rex Hospital Open) are the only first-round leaders to go on to victory. In eight previous playings of the Utah Championship, 2001 winner David Sutherland is the only player to carry the opening-round lead on to victory. ... There were seven bogey-free rounds on Thursday: Craig Lile (63), Todd Demsey (64), Curtis Malm (64), Justin Bolli (66), Mark Wiebe (67), Adam Meyer (68) and Aron Price (68).

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