Former champion Cam Davis produced a clinic for the home fans as he carded a flawless 63 to lead the way after the opening round of the ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
The 28-year-old, who won his national open with his first professional title in 2017, mixed seven birdies with an eagle at The Lakes Golf Club on Thursday to sit one stroke ahead of American Patrick Rodgers.
Australia's national open is being held in Sydney at both The Lakes and The Australian golf clubs with 252 players taking part across the men's, women's and All Abilities championships.
In the women’s event, 16-year-old amateur Rachel Lee shot a six-under 67 at The Lakes as she finished her opening round in torrential rain to hold a share of the clubhouse lead alongside Jenny Shin after the American carded a 66 at The Australian.
World Number 43 Davis, a winner on the PGA TOUR, comes into the second leg of the Australian golf majors double after finishing in a tie for seventh at last week’s Fortinet Australian PGA Championship.
After teeing off from the tenth among the morning starters, Davis played his opening eight holes in six under par, including an eagle at the par five 14th, before he made three birdies on his back nine to set the early pace.
With preferred lies in operation following heavy rain on Wednesday, his bogey-free 63 does not equal the course record held by countryman John Senden but he was understandably delighted with his fine start.
“It was a good round of golf,” said Davis.
“It was awesome to get off to a good start and keep it going throughout the whole round. There are not many better ways to start off your national open, so I am very happy.
“It was awesome to see how many people turned up, so it was a lot of fun.”
Davis’ nearest challenger at eight under is Rodgers, with fellow Australian Hayden Hopewell and Scotland's Connor Syme one shot further back.
While Davis, Rodgers and Hopewell all made the most of the easier scoring conditions at The Lakes, Syme continued his encouraging start to the 2024 Race to Dubai with a seven under par 64 at The Australian.
The 28-year-old Scotsman, who finished in a tie for 13th last week, made the turn three under par and then made three further gains before bouncing back from his only dropped shot of the day with back-to-back birdies over his final two holes.
Syme's countryman Grant Forrest had earlier seemed set to post the best score of the first round at The Australian, mixing seven birdies with one bogey to sit in a four-strong group at six under in a tie for fifth.
"They were perfect conditions this morning, obviously the rain last night softened the place up a bit," he said.
"I played pretty solid to give myself a lot of chances and actually on our front 9, the back 9, I left a few out there.
"But then I got a good run from the third, with four in a row and it was nice to make another one on eight and, all in all, a good start."
He is joined at that mark by fellow DP World Tour winners Sean Crocker and Alexander Levy, who both played at The Lakes, along with American Nicolo Galletti.
Australian fan favourite and three-time DP World Tour winner Min Woo Lee is well placed at five under after a blemish free 67 at The Lakes as he goes in search of back-to-back wins on home soil.
