A flurry of late birdies has revived former champion Greg Chalmers' season and again put him in the mix at the Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast.
The 44-year-old birdied four of the final five holes at Royal Pines on Thursday to be two shot behinds joint overnight leaders Jordan Zunic and Adam Bland.
His first round of 68 snapped a poor run that includes five missed cuts in his past seven tournaments.
"I felt my score wasn't reflecting how I was hitting the ball and that was rewarded," he said of his late run.
"So I'm really pleased. It's the lowest round I've shot in a while.
"I saw a lot of really good signs that I've been waiting to see."
The Sydney product held off Adam Scott in an epic, seven-hole play-off to win at Royal Pines in 2014 and follow his maiden Australian PGA Championship title at Coolum in 2011.
"Coming back to Australia is always just really a pleasure," he said.
"So I'm more relaxed and sometimes that has helped get good results."
Two heavy showers caused play to be suspended before 9am (AEST), making for heavy conditions that challenged the best.
"I've never seen the course play so long," former world No.1 Scott said.
"Your mis-hit was punished a little bit more than normal."
The wet conditions show no sign of relenting, though, with rain predicted for the remaining three days.
