Moscatel breaks course record to lead Australian PGA

Spain's Joel Moscatel equalled the course record at Royal Queensland to claim a narrow lead after the first round of the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship.

Making his first appearance on the DP World Tour as a professional, Moscatel carded eight birdies in a flawless 63 to finish a shot ahead of home favourite Min Woo Lee.

The world number 1,162, who missed out on a full Tour card by a single shot at the qualifying school, said: "It was a crazy round.

"I didn’t even know it was the course record, we just played our golf and it was so nice to equal that record. It was so fun today.

"Missing out at qualifying school was hard but, at the same time, last year I was playing on a satellite tour and some invites on Challenge Tour so being able to plan a full schedule on Challenge Tour this year was a big thing for me."

Former world number one Adam Scott and Scotland’s Connor Syme were part of a six-way tie for fourth place on five under par, while defending champion Cameron Smith struggled to an opening 73.

Syme started his round from the 10th and was one over par for the day before making a birdie on the 18th and following it with five more in the next six holes.

"I definitely came to life on the 18th," Syme said.

"I made a kind of sloppy bogey on the party hole (17th) unfortunately and managed to roll five birdies in a row off after that, which was great and really turned my round around. It was good fun."

Mark Power was best of the Irish on display, he shot a two-under-par 69 to sit tied-32nd after round one. Tom McKibbin and Conor Purcell both carded even-par 71s which leaves them in a tie for 73rd heading into round two.