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David Hearn is picking up where he left off at last year's Canadian Open.

The 28-year-old from Brantford, Ont., was the top Canadian after firing a 6-under 65 Thursday at Angus Glen Golf Club. Hearn, a Nationwide Tour member who received an exemption to play this week, was the top Canadian in 2006 when he finished tied for 20th at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

After this year's opening round, he sits in a tie for third place with Tripp Isenhour, three shots behind leader Hunter Mahan.

"Last year when I came here I was a lot more confident in the Canadian Open than I was in previous years," Hearn said. "So I definitely feel like my game is at a level where I can do well at these events and I'm going to do everything I can to do that."

Hearn has spent just one season (2005) on the PGA Tour since turning pro in 2001. He has made 11 cuts at 29 career PGA Tour events and has played fairly well since going back down to the Nationwide Tour in 2006. This year, he has two top-10 finishes in 16 events.

Hearn said he's hoping to use his previous experience at this event to build on a solid first round.

"It's just a progression," he said. "I fell like I know where my abilities lie and it's just a matter of them coming out."

Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., also started strong, finishing with a 3-under 68 in his PGA Tour event debut.

The 25-year-old has four top-10 finishes on the Canadian Tour this season. He turned pro last fall after playing on the RCGA's national amateur team.

"I know that I can play out here if I'm playing well," DeLaet said. "I don't know exactly what I had expectation-wise coming into the week. I wanted to play for four days and I'm in good position now. I like where I'm sitting."

DeLaet admitted he was a little nervous at the start of the round.

"On the first tee shot my heart was beating pretty hard," he said. "It was something new for me. I had so much fun out there. This is where I want to be, it makes me want to work really hard to get out there."

There are 18 other Canadians in the field, all looking to be the first Canuck to win this event since Pat Fletcher in 1954. Calgary's Stephen Ames had a nice sand save on No. 18 to preserve a 1-under 70. Derek Gillespie of Oshawa, Ont., also had a 70 while Mike Weir of Bright's Grove, Ont., and Brad Fritsch of Manotick, Ont., came in at even-par 71.

Wes Heffernan of Calgary opened with a 72, one stroke better than Jim Rutledge of Victoria, Richard Scott of Kingsville, Ont., James Lepp of Abbotsford, B.C., and the lone Canadian amateur in the field, Victor Ciesielski of Cambridge, Ont.

Ian Leggatt of Cambridge, Ont., and Vernon, B.C., native Chris Baryla were at 74, one shot better than David Morland IV of Aurora, Ont., and Danny King of Milton, Ont. Calgary's James Love had a 76, Montreal's Kevin Senecal shot a 77, Bryn Parry of North Vancouver had a 78 while Brian McCann of Mississauga, Ont., and Andrew Parr of London, Ont., were at 79.