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KEY POINTS:
New Zealand golfer Danny Lee again exhibited his enormous potential with a five under-par 67 on the opening day of the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth yesterday.
The United States Amateur champion recorded six birdies in the extremely hot conditions around The Vines course to end his round three strokes behind the clubhouse leader, Dutchman Robert Jan Derksen.
Derksen birdied four holes in succession mid-round to finish on 64.
Singapore's Mardan Mamat was one behind on seven under par with three players - Ireland's Damien McGrane and Englishmen Lee Westwood and John Bickerton - sharing third place as the afternoon half of the draw took to the course.
Lee, last week named a Herald Future Star of Sport, began his round with a birdie at the par five 10th hole and also recorded outward half birdies at the 15th and 18th holes, although he dropped a shot at the par four 17th.
The 18-year old then birdied three of his opening five holes over his inward nine to move to five under par through 14 holes, before seeing a birdie putt at the par five ninth hole lip-out in an eventual 67.
"The conditions out there today were superb and I played really well though it would have been nice to see that one at the last drop," Lee said.
"I had a few bad tee shots but I recovered well and to only have one bogey in the round is pleasing.
"It's the first time I've played in Perth and I'm very pleased the organisers gave me an invite to compete."
Lee is returning to competition after contesting last month's Abu Dhabi Championship and said in the intervening four weeks he had been at home working on his short game.
Lee's appearance in Perth is the first of four straight events for the ultra-talented New Zealander.
He competes in next week's Moonah Classic in Victoria and then tees up in the back-to-back New Zealand PGA Championship and New Zealand Open. The two events will be Lee's last on these shores as an amateur.
"I'm really looking forward to these next four weeks and the New Zealand Open will be my last event before I go to the States," he said.
David Smail's new season started badly when he recorded a double bogey, but the 38-year old Hamilton player birdied his closing two holes in a two under-par 70.
- NZPA
