Conor Purcell well placed as local pro David Micheluzzi leads Australian Open

Local pro David Micheluzzi shot an opening round of 63 to lead the Australian Open by three strokes, with Ireland's Conor Purcell carding a 68 to lie in a share of 10th.

Australian young gun Grace Kim led the women's component of the inaugural dual gender event by two strokes from South Korea's former world number one Shin Jiyai and major winner Hannah Green after a blazing start in her seven-under 66 at Kingston Heath.

Micheluzzi rolled in eight birdies in his seven-under round at Victoria Golf Club, with just a solitary bogey on the 10th as he took advantage of gentle morning conditions to upstage the likes of Open Championship winner Cameron Smith and former world number one Adam Scott.

He held a three-stroke lead over home player Matthew Griffin and Josh Geary, the New Zealander carding a four-under 68 at Kingston Heath.

Portmarnock's Purcell, who won the Australian Amateur Championship in 2019, carded three birdies in his round, with his only dropped shot coming on 16. He stands on two-under par alongside 12 other players.

Cameron Smith celebrated a three-stroke win on Sunday to seal his third Australian PGA Championship in front a thrilled home crowd at Royal Queensland but slumped to a one-over 71 at Victoria to be eight strokes behind Micheluzzi.

Smith has until Saturday to make up ground before the field is cut to 30 for the final round of the event which is held across two courses to accommodate the men's and women's fields.

Adam Scott had a rollercoaster one-under 71 at Kingston Heath, which mixed seven birdies with four bogeys and a double-bogey on the par-four 16th.

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