Langdale, considered the No. 36 junior in the nation according to Golfweek, went out in 33 and kept up his hot play, converting birdies on Nos. 11 and 12. He closed the round in style with a birdie 3 on the par-4 18th.
The high school senior is one of the top players in South Carolina and a recent Clemson signee.
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Bo Andrews and Scott Harvey both opened with 1-under 70s and are tied for fourth place.
Mike Miller, the highest-ranked player (5th) in the Golfweek/amateurgolf.com U.S. Player Rankings, also shot 1-under 70. The Brewster, N.Y. native decided to leave Penn State to focus on his amateur schedule and has followed a terrific 2012 up with a pair of third-place finishes this year.
Another top mid-am from North Carolina, Matthew Crenshaw is alone in sixth place after an even- par 71.
Former PGA Tour player and the 1997 Azalea winner, John Engler is tied for sixth at 2-over. He’s joined by former U.S. Mid-Am winner Kevin Marsh.
Four-time U.S. Mid-Am champion Nathan Smith shot 4-over 75 and is tied for 12th.
Jim Liu, Golfweek’s top-ranked junior player, is seven shots off the pace along with Walker Cup hopeful Todd White.
With only 11 players at par or under it, the story of Round 1 at the Azalea was soaring scorecards.
Numerous contenders struggled to open the event.
Being played for the 65th time, the Azalea is one of the season’s most prized tournaments. The prestigious event, held at a club that was first established in 1786, attracts one of the top fields in amateur golf. Past champions include Webb Simpson, D.J. Trahan and Smith, one of the top amateurs to ever play the game.
Amateurgolf.com will have continuing coverage of the Azalea Invitational, considered a ‘Major of amateurgolf.com’, throughout the weekend.