Kamloops, BC (Sports Network) - Ramon Bescansa posted a nine-under 63 on Thursday to take the lead after one round of The Western Championship's inaugural running.

Bescansa had nine birdies in a flawless round at Rivershore Golf Links, where many Canadian amateur events are held. This is a good field for the Canadian Tour that features 2011 winners Cody Slover and Jose de Jesus Rodriguez.

Roger Sloan is second after recording an eight-under 64, and Dustin Risdon, Mauricio Molina, Liam Kendregan and Stuart Anderson share third at minus- seven.

Rodriguez, who has won the last two events, is eight shots back at one-under 71.

Bescansa was better than them all, though, as part of one of the first groups off the 10th tee.

After an opening par, Bescansa broke into red figures with back-to-back birdies. He moved to four-under with two straight birdies from the 15th and ended his first nine at minus-five with a birdie at the 18th.

Around the turn, Bescansa birdied the second, then finished with birdies in three of the final four holes. After birdies at Nos. 6, 8 and 9, he set the early pace that was not matched.

Sloan had nine birdies and a bogey and is chasing his first win. He finished second at the Mexican PGA Championship earlier this year.

NOTES: Cody Slover, who won the Albierto Barranquilla Pacific, turned in a scorecard of four-under 68...A total of 82 players in the 152-player field shot under par.

06/09 23:19:37 ET