Ben Silverman on top at Barracuda Championship

(Photo credit: Joseph Cress-USA TODAY Sports)

Ben Silverman of Canada racked up seven birdies over his final nine holes to shoot a plus-19 and take the first-round lead at the Barracuda Championship on Thursday at Tahoe Mountain Club in Truckee, Calif.

The Barracuda Championship uses a Modified Stableford scoring format that encourages risk-taking. Birdies are worth two points, eagles are worth five and albatrosses are w