Daniel Valente and Gavin Flint have set the early morning pace at the Isuzu Queensland Open.

Firing rounds of 4-under 68 the pair are leading a packed leaderboard which also features local Michael Wright.

Playing Brookwater Golf and Country Club for just the first time, Valente was happy to have posted such a decent score after hearing of the courses penal reputation.

"I thought it was a really tough golf course the first time playing. I had heard that it’s extremely tough. Obviously all the boys had said that its very penal," said Valente.

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

"You just have to be really on your game, it’s there if you can play really well but if you are a little bit off, a hole can bite you very,very easily."

It was a different story for Flint, who came into the tournament with a defined course management plan having spent years practicing on the course as part of the Queensland State Team.

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"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."

Wright who calls Brookwater his home course was relieved to have utilises his local knowledge to post a 3-under 69 believing a reduction in pressure lead to his success today.

"I have played terrible the last few years. I just put so much pressure on myself the last couple of years," said Wright.

"With 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."

"It’s good to start off on a good note and I look forward to the rest of the week."

Taylor Macdonald showed some nerves on the first tee but went onto post 2-under 70 in his first round as a Professional.

"The first tee shot, I have hit that tee shot many a time,it was just five times harder today, I’m not sure why," said Macdonald.

"The nerves were there for about three of four holes and then after that I was good to go."

The afternoon field is now on course.

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