Peter Fowler led a procession of Australian golfers to the top of the leaderboard in the first round of the ANZ Championship at New South Wales Golf Club in Sydney by claiming the lead with a round of 64 which equates to 17 points under the modified stableford format.
Fowler, 43, and a winner of the BMW International Open in Germany a decade ago, holds a one point over Stuart Appleby, who also went round in 64, while two more Australians, Peter Lonard and Craig Parry, lie third and fourth on 15 points and 14 points respectively.
Fowler, in his 26th year as a professional, tackled the New South Wales course with precision iron play which helped him accrue nine birdies before a single bogey on the last denied him the chance to equal his career-best round of 63.
After winning back his card European Tour card following a turbulent couple of years, Fowler is enjoying his golf again. And he put much of it down to a rigid fitness regime.
"I work out six times a week in the gym, for an hour to an hour and a half and I've started the year with a higher base of fitness," said Fowler. "I feel rejuvenated, I'm feeling good. I'm doing hard interval training on the bike.
"I'm enjoying golf much more, understanding the work and planning - I feel like a rookie again. I feel free and easy and ready to go."
Fowler's 64 was matched by Appleby, whose round was faultless and included four consecutive birdies between his fourth and seventh holes. But he managed only eight birdies in total compared to than Fowler's nine and therefore was worth 16 points.
"I played well," he said. "I hit the ball a good length today and had a couple of nice kick-in birdies. Basically I hit the ball well off the tee and with my irons, and I putted well too. A good clean round of golf. If I have three more rounds like that I'll have a pretty damn good tournament."
Lonard, who finished tied for second with Nick Faldo at last week's Heineken Classic, maintained his fine form to reach the end of day one in third place on 15 points having shot a 65 that included an eagle three on the par five 12th.
One point back was Parry, who sunk seven birdies in his last 14 holes to card a 65 and bag 14 points. "I made a good start and on the back nine everything fell into place," he said. "It was one of those days when you scored low."
Behind the leading pack of Australians, there is a fierce battle developing with 14 players divided by just two shots. Germany's Tobias Dier, Steve Collins - another Australian - and England's Matthew Blackey scored 12 points while in close contention are the likes of Stephen Leaney, who had two eagles, and Robert Karlsson on 11.
