Mark Power best of the Irish at Australian Open

Kilkenny's Mark Power is four shots off leader Cameron Davis after the opening round of the ISPS Handa Australian Open in Sydney.

The fledgling professional, who only joined the paid ranks in September, racked up six birdies and a solitary bogey at the Australian Golf Club for a round of 67 as he finished on five under par.

Power just missed the cut at the DP World Tour Qualifying School Final Stage in Spain earlier this month, but the Wake Forest alumnus justified his sponsor's invitation for the tournament with a composed round that almost closed with a spectacular chip-in birdie.

Dubliner Conor Purcell is one shot further back, with Holywood's Tom McKibbin one over after a round of 72 at The Lakes – the second course in use this week – which featured a birdie on 18.

Former champion Davis produced a flawless 63 at The Lakes.

The Sydney native, whose maiden professional victory came in the same event in 2017, fired an eagle and seven birdies to move to nine under.

Davis enjoys a one-shot lead over American Patrick Rodgers, with Scotland's Connor Syme another stroke back following a 64 alongside Hayden Hopewell.

"It was a good round of golf," said Davis. "It was awesome to get off to a good start and keep it going throughout the whole round. There are not many better ways to start off your national open, so I am very happy.

"It was awesome to see how many people turned up, so it was a lot of fun."

In the women's event, world number five Minjee Lee carded an opening 70 to lie three shots off the lead shared by 16-year-old Australian amateur Rachel Lee and American Jenny Shin.

Italy’s Tommaso Perrino shares the lead in the All Abilities Championship, with Australia’s Cameron Pollard after both men shot 69, while defending champion