In-form rookie Deyen Lawson has taken a one-shot first-round lead at the Queensland Open in Brisbane.
Lawson was at the top of the leaderboard on Thursday following a five-under-par 65 highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 16th at Brisbane Golf Club.
The 25-year-old was one shot clear of New South Welshman Ben Clementson and fellow Victorian Steven Jones to lead the $110,000 tournament after the opening round.
After completing his traineeship at Curlewis Golf Club near Geelong last year, Lawson has been a consistent performer this year on the Australian PGA Tour.
He has notched four top-10 finishes to be sitting 10th on the order of merit but has yet to break through for his first win.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
"I have enough self-belief, I really believe that I can contend in all the events and I just want to keep doing what I am doing," Lawson said.
"I started really started knuckling down and practising about a year-and-a-half into my traineeship. My coach Darrell Brown had a word to me and said I was wasting myself away. He knew my potential."
Clementson was one of the stories of the day, recovering from three over after four holes to fire seven birdies on the closing 14 to be four under.
Victorian Brett Coletta was the best of the amateurs, one of three players in a share of fourth at three under.
