Victorian golfer James Marchesani has set a cracking pace with an eight-under-par 63 to lead after the first round of the TPS Sydney tournament at Bonnie Doon Golf Club.
Marchesani reeled off 10 birdies in Thursday's round, including six in a row on the back nine, and at one point flirted with a magical 59.
Alas, he posted a double-bogey six on the 17th hole to leave his pursuers within striking distance.
Last year's runner-up Brendan Jones, Queenslander Charlie Dann and Sydneysiders Daniel Gale and Anthony Choat were all just one shot off the pace after carding 64s in perfect scoring conditions.
Andrew Martin and leading female Grace Kim produced the rounds of the afternoon to join the logjam just one back in the mixed-gender tournament.
Kim, who teamed with NRL star and World Cup-winning Australian captain James Tedesco to win Wednesday morning's pro-am, continued her impressive form with a bogey-free round featuring seven birdies.
Fellow LPGA player Sarah Kemp was in a tie for seventh at six under.
But the day belonged to in-form Marchesani, who continues to knock on the door in search of his maiden professional win in Australia.
"Not sure if I've done it in a tournament - maybe five - so six is a nice one-up on that," Marchesani said of his back-nine consecutive birdie streak.
Tied for 21st at last week's Vic Open, Marchesani is still smarting from his runner-up finish at TPS Victoria three weeks ago.
The 18, 36 and 54-hole leader on his home course at Rosebud Country Club, Marchesani was run down by Korean Min A Yoon but has tried to shed that disappointment and instead harness the good form he has shown since the first tournament of the season.
"I'd be lying if I said it didn't sting," added Marchesani, who was also tied ninth at the WA PGA Championship at Kalgoorlie.
"To win at home is something that probably everyone wants to do and not everyone can. I'm just fortunate that I've got a tournament at my home club.
"I probably wouldn't have changed any shot that I hit but to come up one short was a bit frustrating. But it was a good week."
The third tournament in this year's Webex Players Series has again drawn a quality field of male and female professionals.
The final two rounds of TPS Sydney will also feature junior and All Abilities fields.
