Richard Gilkey has fired a standout round of 5-under 65 at Wynnum Golf Club to sit at the top of the leaderboard following round one of the Bartons/BMD QLD Senior PGA Championship on the Ladbrokes Legends Tour.

Having played in both the US Senior PGA Championship and the US Senior Open earlier this year, the American was at the top of his game amongst a highly-talented field featuring Rodger Davis, Richard Backwell, Peter Senior and Michael Harwood.

Gilkey’s bogey-free round of five birdies sees him take a one-shot lead into the second round ahead of Darryl Purchase in second at 4-under the card.

“The Legends Tour here in Australia fits perfect into my yearly calendar of events and in addition to playing ok, it is nice to be playing a good series of events,” said Gilkey

“I have been battling illness over the last couple of weeks though you know what they say, beware of the sick golfer.”

Davis, a previous winner of the QLD Senior PGA Championship, holds third place alongside formidable forces in Richard Backwell, Peter Senior, Nigel Lane and America’s Shaquill Mongol at 3-under 67.

The final round of the Bartons/BMD QLD Senior PGA Championship tees off at 11am for a shotgun start at Wynnum Golf Club.