2025 Platinum
The PGA Tour novice, already well accustomed to golf fashion , finished four-under on 68 to hold a one-stroke lead.
Fellow Americans Billy Mayfair and Chris Smith, and Argentinian star Emiliano Grillo are the trio right behind him at the Rio Grande event.
Hubbard coped well with windy conditions to shoot three consecutive birdies on holes four, five and six. He only looked like a player who just scrapes into the world top 400 when he bogeyed the eighth.
Hubbard benefited from the inconsistency of some of his closest rivals. Mayfair, for example, mixed three bogeys with six birdies.
In joint fifth place comes a pack of 11 players on 70; including Alex Cejka (Germany), Rafael Cabrera Bello (Spain) and David Duval (US). Golden oldie John Daly kept himself in the hunt with a par 72.
Hubbard told the PGA Tour's official website that he played his better golf with the wind against him, and added he was happy with his driving as well as his close-range putting.