Former Irish Open champion Lucas Herbert opened with a bogey-free 63 to lead the ISPS HANDA Australian Open by a shot in Melbourne.
As West Waterford’s Gary Hurley posted a one-over 72 at Victoria Golf Club, home favourite Herbert covered the same terrain in eight-under to lead by a shot from Japanese amateur Rintaro Nakano and American Ryggs Johnston.
“I felt like there were a lot of shots left out there,” said Herbert, who covered the back nine in four-under before following birdies at the first and sixth with a closing eagle three from ten feet at the ninth.
“I feel like that with every round of golf, to be fair, but I didn’t really think I holed that many putts. Just hit it quite nicely. Got it into the right spots.
“Probably got a couple of lucky breaks here and there where shots that maybe weren’t the best didn’t get punished the way they could have.
“So, look, if that’s the worst round of the week, I’d be pretty happy, but I would suggest that’s probably not going to be the worst round of the week.
“You’ve just got to take your luck when you get it. There are days where you can play really well and just nothing goes for you. So yeah, I’m going to be happy with that.”
Johnston, who won his DP World Tour card at Q-School earlier this month, and Japanese amateur Nakano were tied for second on seven under after carding 65s at the other host course, Kingston Heath.
Challenge Tour graduate Oliver Lindell, Cameron Smith, Jordan Gumberg and Kazuma Kobori were tied for fourth after carding 65s at Victoria Golf Club.
English pair Matt Southgate and Marco Penge, American Harry Higgs, MK Kim of Korea, Italian Filippo Celli and Australia’s Harrison Crowe were a shot further back.
Hurley started on the back nine at Victoria Golf Club, but after making eight pars and a birdie at the 18th to turn in one-under, he dropped shots back to back at the fourth and fifth and shared 95th heading into round two.
This week’s event incorporates three tournaments: the Australian All Abilities Championship and the men’s and women’s Australian Opens.
In the women’s event, Australia’s Su Oh and Hyojin Yang of Korea share a one-shot lead after recording seven under par rounds at Kingston Heath and Victoria respectively.
World number one Kipp Popert of England shares the lead with Korea’s Simon Seungmin Lee at one under par in the Australian All Abilities Championship.
Ireland’s Brendan Lawlor was tied for fifth after opening with a five-over 77 at Kingston Heath.