hot Perth golfer Paul Bucan has taken a commanding lead after the first round of the Australian Mid Amateur Championship in Sydney.
Bucan, a member at Royal Fremantle, peeled off a bogey-free round of 68 at the Lynwood Country Club to take a five-stroke lead.
Bucan, who recently won the WAGC Amateur Open, carded birdies on the sixth, ninth, 12th and 13th holes to take command of the 54-hole strokeplay event.
Ultra-consistent Queenslander Brett Monaghan and New South Welshman Guy Wall are Bucan’s nearest rivals after each fired 73, while defending champion Damien Jordan, of Queensland, and Ian Ashbury, of NSW, are a further shot back in a tie for fourth.
Grand Stidiford had the honour of the day’s best shot when he holed out on the 174m par-three 17th. Unfortunately for the Queenslander, it came just one hole after he carded a 10 on the par-five 16th.
In the concurrent women’s event, Kim Burke leads the way by two strokes after an impressive opening 74.
Burke was square through six holes, before dropping shots on the 7th and 8th. But she continued her aggressive style and made birdies on the 10th and 17th to counter bogeys on the 14th and 18th.
Gemma Dooley is second after an opening 76, while Catherine Coates completes an all New South Wales leaderboard on 78.
The second of three rounds takes place on Thursday.