When Victorian golfer Daniel Valente boarded a flight to Fiji, he gambled on squeezing into the field of the Australasian Tour's $1.5 million tournament.
After Thursday's first round of the Fiji International, the World No. 1688's punt has paid off.
Valente is tied for second with Kiwi Ben Campbell after both shot five-under-par 67s, to be just one shot behind New Zealand's Daniel Pearce.
On Saturday while still fourth alternate, Valente abandoned plans to head for the Fiji.
Two days later, he was told he would be first reserve and made a mad dash for Natadola Bay.
"You're damned if you do, damned if you don't to come over," Valente said.
"I decided to fly over and it's paid off obviously - so far."
The little-known Valente overcame windy conditions to make seven birdies and put himself in contention for the biggest win of his career.
"It's a real test of golf here," Valente said.
"Normally in Australia you play early you get the better of the conditions, but it's still probably going to be blowing a gale in the morning.
"You've got to be ready for a battle."
The last player into the field will be up for the fight in Friday's second round, boosted by a career-best sixth at the same tournament in 2015.
Pearce hit an eagle followed by three consecutive birdies to kick off his inward nine on the way to a stellar round of 66.
Pearce, who scored a breakthrough win at the Queensland PGA, said the birth of his daughter Lola in February had given him new perspective.
"It's pretty cool to come home to a little person who doesn't make your bad rounds feel so bad and makes your good rounds feel even better," Pearce said.
Malaysian Gavin Green was the best of the early starters with a four under 68. He was later joined by a trio of Australians including veteran David McKenzie, Adam Bland and Peter Wilson.
South Australian Peter Cooke created some magic on the par-three 15th, using a gap wedge to hit a hole-in-one on his way to a one-under 71.
That has him tied for 24th with Fijian legend Vijay Singh, who battled an elbow complaint, and a group including Australian contenders Scott Hend and Andrew Dodt.
Singh's fellow US PGA winners Mike Weir and Angel Cabrera both finished with an even-par 72.
