John Wade fired an eight under par 64 at Lake Karrinyup to claim the clubhouse lead during the first round of the ISPS HANDA Perth International.
The 46 year old Australian, who spent a couple of seasons on The European Tour after twice coming through Qualifying School in the late nineties, got off to a scintillating start with four birdies in his first five holes followed by an eagle at the long 15th having begun his round on the tenth.
After turning in 30 Wade, whose only professional victory came on the Challenge Tour in 2006, picked up further shots from six feet at the third and 12 feet at the seventh.
That put him two clear of compatriot Michael Sim and Scotland’s Peter Whiteford, who had more than just the €198,300 winner’s cheque in his sights.
Only the top 111 players on The Race to Dubai at close of play on Sunday will keep their cards for 2015, and at 149th ~Whiteford needs a top-two finish to avoid a trip to Qualifying School.
Five birdies and an eagle at the par five seventh helped his cause, with his only dropped shot coming at the tenth.
Out on the course, Denmark’s Thorbjørn Olesen had also advanced to six under with seven holes to play.
Perth native Brett Rumford, who despite being 119th on The Race to Dubai is safe for next season having won twice last term, was tied for fifth on five under with compatriot Matthew Griffin, England’s Mark Foster and Scot David Drysdale – with the latter another scrapping for his European Tour future at 116th in the standings.
Drysdale needed at least a top-19 finish, but with 111th-placed Matthew Nixon posting a two under 70 there was every chance of his task becoming more difficult.
Major Champions Charl Schwartzel and Jason Dufner carded rounds of 68 and 70 respectively, with the South African chipping in on the ninth.
“It feels a bit weird actually,” said Wade. “I certainly haven't been top of the leaderboard for a hell of a long time.
“I just got a fast start. I didn't play well last week, so wasn't a lot of form going in, but once I got a fast start, I had to think ‘well, maybe I've turned it around a little bit’.
“I didn't really leave any out there. I got a couple of up and downs in and stuff like that, which helps your round, definitely.
“It's been an unknown quantity at the moment, to be honest. I've played bits and pieces - I played the British Open last year, which in a way I called on that a little bit today. I played a British Open at Muirfield with no golf, and that's pretty scary. I got through qualifying and had to really try to man up in front of a pretty intense environment.
“So I felt today at least, even though it was a long time ago, it was over 12 months ago, you can draw on some of that stuff at my age. That gets you through days like today when you're playing okay.
“This is ridiculous really. I didn't know what to expect.
“I just was proud that I didn't let it go after I was six under, which is really annoying for most guys. And someone in my situation, you're probably half expecting that to happen.
“Tomorrow is another day. This is all new to me; I'll just to have go out with the same attitude.”
