Adrian Otaegui turned in 33 to take a share of the very early lead on day one of the Australian PGA Championship at RACV Royal Pines Resort.
The Spaniard arrived on the Gold Coast searching for a third European Tour win but a first over regular 72-hole stroke play having won the Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play and the Belgian Knockout in 2017 and 2018.
He made four birdies and a bogey in his opening nine holes to get to three under and share top spot with Australians Damien Jordan, Jake McLeod and Anthony Quayle.
India's Gaganjeet Bhullar was then two under alongside American Troy Merritt and Australians Mathew Goggin and Simon Hawkes.
Starting on the tenth, Otaegui birdied his opening hole but gave the shot straight back before making gains on the 12th and 13th. Another birdie on the 15th gave him the solo lead at three under but he was soon joined by a host of home favourites.
Jordan made gains on the third, fourth and seventh, while Quayle picked up shots on the tenth, 12th and 14th.
McLeod's start was then even quicker with birdies on the tenth, 12th and 13th moving him into a four-way tie for top spot.
Bhullar was the winner the last time the European Tour co-sanctioned a regular individual event with the PGA Tour of Australasia at the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways, and after a bogey-bogey start he birdied the 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th.
Merritt had a bogey and three birdies in his first eight holes, while Goggin and Hawkes were bogey-free in the early stages of their rounds.
Ross McGowan, Jason Norris and Duncan Stewart were in the group at one under, a shot clear of a group of 33 players including defending champion Cameron Smith and World Number 21 Marc Leishman.
