New Zealand’s Mark Brown has taken the first round lead at the Lexus of Blackburn Victorian PGA Championship being played at the Heritage Golf and Country Club.

Firing a 7-under 65, Brown leads by a shot from Victorian Terry Pilkadaris while a further shot back are countryman Gareth Paddison, Victorian Michael Choi and New South Welshman Kurt Barnes.

Brown finished just one shot shy of equalling the course record held by Tour Professional David Bransdon.

"It’s quite hard to know how you are going to come out and play after such a big break," said Brown following his first round of the 2014 PGA Tour of Australasia season.

"But it’s a good track, it’s reasonably generous off the tee and the greens are perfect."

"I think the challenge this week will be the wind."

Brown’s round was highlighted by a hole-in-one on the par-3 151metre 17th hole.

"It was nice to get one when you hit a great shot. I had the right club and hit the perfect shot in," said Brown who achieved the feat using his 8-iron.

"It stopped about three metres short and rolled in; it always looked like it was going in."
Brown played with compatriot Mike Hendry, the pair spurring each other on throughout the round.

"I haven’t played as well as I would have like in the State Based Championships, playing with Mike today made a big difference," added Brown.

"We lift each other, there is nothing competitive about it, we just both want to play well and we tend to when we are partnered together."

Hendry finished with a 4-under 68 to be tied fifth with Paul Sheehan (VIC), Alex Hawley (NSW), Jamie Arnold (NSW), Michael Long (NZ), Euan Walters (VIC), Steve Jones (VIC) and amateur Ben Eccles (VIC).