(AFP) - Jason Day was one of the early pace-setters but the world No. 1 still finished five strokes back of clubhouse leader Brian Stuard at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans on Thursday.

Australian star Day fired an opening round three-under 69 and is tied for 12th at the rain-hit PGA Tour event where play was delayed for nearly five hours.

Afternoon thunderstorms lashed the TPC Louisiana at Avondale course resulting in 78 players not being able to finish their first rounds. The opening round will resume early Friday morning and will be followed immediately by the second round.

Day drained a 59-foot birdie on the par-four 16th hole to post his fourth birdie of the day.

The 28-year-old, who is playing this event for the fourth time, took a week off after finishing in a tie for 23rd at the RBC Heritage tournament. He has not placed outside the top 25 in seven of his eight events this season, winning the Arnold Palmer and WGC-Match Play.

The most impressive opening round came from Stuard of the United States, who shot a bogey-free eight under 64 to take a one-shot lead over South Africa's Retief Goosen.

The 33-year-old journeyman sunk eight birdies and no bogeys in a flawless display.

Two more birdies before the turn put him at five under and he began the back nine with another birdie blitz to move to eight under.

J.J. Henry, Derek Ernst, Charles Howell, Patrick Rodgers and Australia's Geoff Ogilvy are tied for third at 67.

Rickie Fowler, New Zealand's Danny Lee and two South Koreans, Noh Seung Yul and An Byeong Hun, share eighth place at 68.