Chris Downes missed the worst of a rain-affected first round of the Australian Open today to lead by one shot at the new Moonah Links course outside Melbourne.
Downes thrived in the calm morning conditions to card six birdies and one bogey for a five-under par 67 before heavy rain fell in the afternoon.
Just 28 of the 123 players in the field broke par in what is shaping up to be a stern test Downes, 23, from Brisbane, leads former Australian Masters and Australian PGA winner Peter Lonard by one stroke.
Compatriot Stuart Appleby, who won the championship in 2001, fired four consecutive birdies and two bogeys on the opening six holes of the challenging layout before completing a round of 69.
His putt for birdie rolled out of the cup on the par-five 18th which left the Orlando-based 32-year-old in equal third place with Craig Jones, Craig Parry, David McKenzie, Richard Green, Nathan Green and American Ricky Barnes.
"I'll definitely take 67," Downes told a news conference. "Obviously it's got to be pretty benign out there to shoot that score. If any wind gets up, a 72 to a 75 is a good score."
Australian Masters champion Robert Allenby, who had not played at Moonah Links before, said he was happy with his even-par 72. "It is the toughest golf course we have in Australia," the world number 16 told reporters.
The Australian Golf Union (AGU) wanted a more positive start to the national championship than last year's controversial first round when officials wiped the scores and rescheduled a 54-hole tournament after players complained about the rock-hard greens at Melbourne's Victoria Golf Club.
Appleby, the highest-ranked player in the event, expects few players to break par in the hot summer winds on a course featuring some choking rough and 77 bunkers.
Moonah Links designer, Australia's five-times British Open winner Peter Thomson, said: "It's an enjoyable course for a pro golfer. We're trying to sort out the sheep from the goats." Lonard said: "It definitely has a British Open feel to it."