Joel Moscatel carded a course-record equalling eight under par 63 to take the early lead at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship.
The Spaniard, making his first appearance on the DP World Tour as a professional, sits one stroke ahead of home favourite Min Woo Lee after his bogey-free effort at Royal Queensland Golf Club.
The 25-year-old made the turn three under par and then reeled off five consecutive birdies from the 12th to take the clubhouse lead, just one week on from Qualifying School Final Stage where he missed out on full playing privileges on the DP World Tour by a single stroke.
“It was a crazy round. We were so present, (my caddie and I) were enjoying a lot,” he said. “He’s a good friend of mine too. He’s been caddying this year on tour for six months for Adri Arnaus, a good player on DP World Tour, so we just, we were so present that we were really enjoying the moment, so I think maybe that’s the secret.
“I didn’t even know it was the course record, we just played our golf and it was so nice to equal that record. It was so fun today.
"(Missing out at Qualifying School) was hard but, at the same time, (last year) I was playing on a satellite tour and some invites on Challenge Tour. So being able to plan full schedule on Challenge Tour this year was a big thing for me. I wanted to have it, but one shot in six days is nothing. So, it is what it is."
Lee sits one stroke back after carding a seven under 64 as he hunts a second professional victory on home soil to follow up his ISPS HANDA Vic Open success in 2020.
“Birdieing two of the last three were really nice,” said Lee. “It seemed like if you don’t make birdie there, it seems like it’s a lost opportunity, so I felt like I didn’t leave much out there and it was a very solid round.
“I think I did everything pretty solid. I putted and chipped really nicely and then drove it really good. This course is quite wide, so you’ve got to hit decent approach shots around this course. You’ve got to miss them in the right spots. So, I think approach play was spot on today. I didn’t really miss too many greens, so that helped.”
One stroke further back is Lee’s compatriot John Lyras on six under par, with former World Number One and Masters Tournament winner Adam Scott and Scotsman Connor Syme sharing fourth on five under.
