World number one amateur Takumi Kanaya has shown the professionals how it’s done in round one of the Emirates Australian Open.

A superb round of 6-under 65 took Kanaya to a two-stroke lead over the field as the afternoon groups take to the course.

The Japanese young gun seemed comfortable around The Australian Golf Club layout after firing seven birdies and a lone bogey.

“Yeah, I enjoy today, so I shot a 65 today and I play with Jason (Scrivener) and Jamie (Lovemark), so I enjoy it so much,” Kanaya said.

“I had a good start, the front nine but back nine is difficult – second nine. 

“I know here is very difficult golf course, to find the ball.  I have lucky, should be 30 feet to make par, I make putt..”

Emirates Australian Open 2015 champion Matt Jones returned to the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia tournament in style with an opening a round of 4-under 67.

The Australian Golf Club member held the lead at multiple points throughout the round but named putting as his strength on Thursday.

“I made a few putts for par to keep a round going.  If you miss those, then my whole round has a total different ending,” Jones said.

“Sometimes those par putts, 6, 8-foot putts to make par are more important than a 6-foot birdie putt. 

“To not lose a stroke I find is far more important than making a stroke.”

Former Vic Open champion Dimi Papadatos and 2019 QLD PGA Championship winner Daniel Nisbet also sit well within reach of the lead at 4-under the card.

Two-time Australian PGA champion Cameron Smith was pleased with a 3-under 68 round to sit alongside a logjam of players including Wade Ormsby, Blake Windred and Jason Scrivener.

“The course always presents a challenge here, but we had pretty good conditions early this morning,” Smith said.

“The greens were quite soft and the greens aren’t overly speedy as they normally are here, so it was pretty gettable.”

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