However, it is through his position on the PGA Tour that provides the best chance for him to retain his card. He currently sits at 159th on the Order of Merit and needs to climb inside the top 125 from the four Fall Series events to retain his card.
Lee made birdies on holes three and four to make the turn in two under. He added five birdies, including three in a row after the turn, and two bogeys to come home in 32 and sign for a 66.
Hamilton professional Steve Alker and Manawatu professional Tim Wilkinson have fired rounds of two-under par 69 to be in a share of 57th place.
Alker and Wilkinson are in 81st and 66th position on the web.com Tour's money list and need good results to advance to the PGA Tour by finishing inside the top 25.
On the Japan Golf Tour, David Smail has carded a two under par 70 to be in a share of 35th place after round one of the ANA Open.
Smail, who is currently in 59th place on the Tour's money list, needs to finish inside the top 70 to keep his card for the 2013 season.
The Hamilton pro made two birdies on the front nine to be two under at the turn and then added a bogey and a birdie coming home to sign for a 70.
He will begin round two five shots back from Japan's Tetsuji Hiratsuka who opened with a seven-under par 65.
Auckland professional Richard Lee opened with an even-par 72 to be tied 77th and in danger of missing the cut.
Lee is in 100th place on the Order of Merit and he needs to climb 30 places to keep his card in 2013.
