Paul Powell took the lead at the Australian PGA Seniors
Championship at Mollymook Hilltop Golf Club by firing a 1-under 71 in round one.

Considering the blustery conditions, the Victorian played an
almost flawless round of golf with an only one bogey at the difficult 398m,
par-4, 4^th hole.

"It’s a tough course out there but I kept the ball in play
and chipped really well," said Powell.

"I’ve been working on my mental approach to the game and
today it all seemed to come together."

The 55-year-old Seniors player is leading by one shot from
four of his fellow Professionals including E-Z-GO PGA Legends Tour Order of
Merit leader Tim Elliott and PGA Legends Tour Rookie Martin Pettigrew; the Kiwi
is playing his first event on the E-Z-GO PGA Legends Tour.

"It’s great to be out playing. I’ve been preparing for this
since turning 50 earlier in the year so I’m hoping for a good week," said
Pettigrew.

Other notable scores from this first day are Mark Tickle and
Brad Burns tied 2^nd; Legends David Merriman and Michael Harwood are
respectively 2 and 3 shots over the card while Peter O’Malley sits at T16 with
4-over 76.

The Defending Champion Rodger Davis, struggling with the
flu, did not play his best golf with an opening round of 9-over 81 to sit in a
tie for 53^rd position.