The first round of the Isuzu Queensland Open is done and dusted with more than a couple of Professionals impressed with how they handled the challenging layout.

Being played on the Greg Norman designed Brookwater Golf and Country Club the course has a reputation for sorting the men from the boys, it rewards good play but quickly penalises those who play loose.

But today a handful of plays felt they came out on top of Brookwater, finally securing that good round and setting themselves up for the remainder of the Isuzu Queensland Open.

Playing the tournament and the course for just the first time, Daniel Valente said the course’s reputation had preceded itself but he had all the shots in the bag to ensure he posted a round of 4-under 68.

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"I had heard that it’s extremely tough. Obviously all the boys had said that it’s very penal. I thought it was a really tough golf course the first time playing," said Valente who finished the first round in a share of the lead.

"I got off to a hot start playing the back-9 and just kept it kind of going."

"I guess I played it relatively conservative but at the same time if you had to hit driver or go at a pin I hit those shots and putted pretty well to so it all kind of worked out."

At the other end of the spectrum to Valente is Gavin Flint who knows the course like the back of his hand.

He utilised his course knowledge to formulate a defined plan on how to tackle his round which paid dividends. He also fired 4-under 68 to head the leaderboard.

"I have played here a lot; I came through the Queensland Teams and Queensland Academy of Sport so I have probably had 100 plus rounds out here," said Flint.

"I definitely have a good idea of how I like to play the course; it’s pretty tricky so my game plan was pretty good today."

"You have to be aggressive off the tee without hitting too many drivers, because the second shots on this golf course can be really difficult. Today I put it into pretty good positions off the tee and then I was able to capitalise."

After getting the hurry along from PGA Tour of Australasia Rules Officials as darkness was setting in, 27-year-old Victorian Rory Bourke made a late charge.

"I came home really hard the last few holes with a birdie and an eagle so it was great," said Bourke who has surprised to learn he was tied for the lead.

"I didn’t realise, that’s great, that’s better than I thought."

This is Bourke’s second year playing the Isuzu Queensland Open and while he made the cut last year this is by far the best round he has turned in on the Brookwater layout.

"I played here last year. I made the cut but didn’t really get on with it," added Bourke.

"Last year it was very wet in spots and we got a lot of mud balls. This year it’s very dry so you are getting a lot of run on it."

"There’s not a lot of drivers to hit which is great, you can kind of just hit it, plot your way around and hit a lot of greens and play it all with the putter. I had a good day today with the putter so it just worked out."

Also happy with his performance at Brookwater with the flat stick was Michael Sim who has spent the winter working on his game.

"I hit the ball well and I putted well too. Any time you shoot under par at Brookwater you are probably going to putt pretty well," said Sim who after a round of 3-under 69 is tied 4^th on the leaderboard.

"That’s actually my lowest round, around here so I haven’t really broken par too much."

"I’m playing better and I am enjoying my golf, I have been working hard so it’s nice to get off to a good start."

Out of all the players in the field Michael Wright has always carried the burden of expectation at Brookwater Golf and Country Club.

As a member he is playing the Queensland Open on his home track and this pressure has lead to some poor performances in the past but flying under the radar this year Wright has joined Sim on the leaderboard.

"It’s been a few years since I have put a good score on during an event at Brookwater, we have only obviously had the Queensland Open here," said Wright.

"I just put so much pressure on myself the last couple of years, everyone saying "oh it’s your home course you’re the red hot favourite" but this year I’ve actually slipped under the radar, it’s been great."

"No one has really said too much so I just didn’t really have any expectations and went out and played my golf."

While the players felt they came out on top of Brookwater this round the real winners were the golf fans on site to watch the action. Invariably a course like this always challenges the players to produce some of their best golf and the field did that today.

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