Locals Oliver Goss and John Wade were the early leaders as David Drysdale made a strong start to his last-ditch bid to retain a European Tour card for next season.
Only the top 110 full European Tour Members on The Race to Dubai at the end of the ISPS HANDA Perth International will keep their playing privileges for next season, and Scotland’s Drysdale was one of several players in the last-chance saloon as he started the week 116th.
Needing to finish at least 19th at Lake Karrinyup to have any chance of moving past England’s Matthew Nixon, the player currently occupying the last place on the 2015 Race to Dubai, Drysdale birdied his opening hole and then started for home with four gains in six holes to be five under through 15 holes.
That put him in a tie for third alongside Perth native Brett Rumford, who despite enduring a difficult year which sees him 119th in the standings is already exempt for next year after winning twice in as many weeks last term.
The 20 year old Goss, a former US Amateur runner-up and the low amateur at this year’s Masters Tournament, had four birdies in an outward 32 and picked up further shots at the tenth and 12th to be six under and lead alongside fellow Australian Wade.
Wade, 26 years his compatriot’s senior, played on The European Tour in 1997 and registered his only Challenge Tour victory in 2006, but currently finds himself outside the top 1500 on The Official World Golf Ranking.
He made an electric start, however, following four birdies in his first five holes with an eagle three at the 15th.
Scotland’s Pete Whiteford, needing to finish no worse than runner-up this week, had sat alongside Drysdale and Rumford after turning in 31 only to bogey the tenth.
Former Masters Tournament champion Charl Schwartzel was three under in the latter stages of his round, two ahead of American fellow Major winner Jason Dufner.
Nixon was also making life difficult for those fighting for their futures, as he reached three under through 16 holes.
