Andrew Dodt opened with a bogey-free 67 to share the clubhouse lead on day one of the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways.
Glorious conditions greeted the players as the island paradise hosted a European Tour event for the third season running and Dodt raced to the top of the leaderboard alongside fellow Australians Nick Cullen and Jarryd Felton.
Dodt finished a career-best 44th on the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex last season and is looking for a first win since 2015 at Natadola Bay Golf Club.
Cullen carded six birdies and a single bogey in his opening round, while Felton also dropped a single shot with four birdies and an eagle.
Maverick Antcliff and Matthew Griffin were then at three under as Australians held the top five positions.
Dodt started his round with five pars but birdied the 15th and an eagle on the 17th saw him turn in 33. Further gains came on the first and fifth but Cullen soon joined him at five under as he became the first man to set the target.
Gains on the 11th, 12th and 15th got him off to a fast start and he bounced back from a bogey on the 16th with a birdie on the 17th. Another birdie came on the third and when he holed a ten-footer on the par five ninth, he was in a share of top spot.
Felton tuned in 33 with birdies on the third, seventh and ninth and after a bogey on the 11th, he birdied the 15th and made an eagle on the 17th to make it a three-way tie.
A hat-trick of birdies from the 17th had Griffin in a share of fourth after a bogey-free effort.
Antcliff birded the first, fourth and ninth to turn in 33 but came home in level par with gains on the 13th and 17th and bogeys on the 11th and 16th.
Lucas Herbert has three top tens on the European Tour this season and he carded a roller coaster 70 with two eagles, three birdies, three bogeys and a double.
Fellow Australian Terry Pilkadaris was bogey-free to also sit at two under alongside South African Justin Walters, Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar and local favourite Sam Lee.
Four-time Major Championship winner Ernie Els was level par after making four birdies and four bogeys in a 72.
