Calm conditions at Thirteenth Beach today ensured low scores from the players competing in the Oats Vic Open.

Birdies galore on the course made for an exciting morning of viewing with three players equalling the tournament course record on the beach course.

Aaron Townsend was first in the clubhouse with a round of 8-under 64 which briefly saw him hold the lead at 9-under the card.

"I wasn’t hitting (my approaches) very close, but had a good feel for the speed of the greens and the read as well," said Townsend who had just 26 putts for the round.

"It’s not often you have days like that when you can see them … it was a nice day in that respect."

"The longest putt was about 5m, but I probably had about four or five of those. The guys got sick of them going in, I think," he joked. "But I certainly wasn’t sick of it."

But hot on heels was young gun Jason Scrivener who fired a bogey free 64 to hold a one shot lead on 10-under the card.

"I hit a lot of greens – it was pretty stress-free, really," said Scrivener.

"I only missed a couple of greens today and it felt fairly easy for once, which was nice."

One of Australia’s most exciting young talents, Scrivener will spend 2015 competing on the European Tour for the first time.

His season got off to a great start with at T11 in the Tour’s South African swing.

"Instead of having a long break over Christmas and New Year I have kept playing which is good," added Scrivener.

"I had a good start in South Africa and I have kept on practicing to get ready for this."

"It was a nice way to start the year."

Scrivener has brought his European Tour form and friend, Ryan Cairns, to the Oates Vic Open.

From Zimbabwe, Cairns has travelled to Victoria to tee it up at the suggestion of Scrivener.

So far the trip is paying dividends for Cairns who opened with a 3-under 69 and is currently on course in his second round.

"I have known Ryan for a long time and played a few practice rounds with him in South Africa," added Scrivener.

"Luckily he got an invite and he is loving it over here."

Canberra’s Matthew Millar was the final player of the morning field to equal the tournament course record.

He is now tied third with BetEasy Masters Champion Nick Cullen and second year Professional Callan O’Reilly on 8-under the card.

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