Seventeen-year-old schoolboy Jeffrey Guan showed why he's considered a future star of Australian golf as he shot six-under 66 to share the lead after the first round of the WA Open.
The amateur from Bexley in Sydney put together seven birdies in his first 13 holes at Royal Fremantle GC late on Thursday and would have led outright overnight but for a bogey from a plugged bunker lie on the par-4 14th.
A two-time winner of the Australian Junior title, Guan won the IMG World Junior event at age 10 and was Bexley club champion at 12.
The year 12 schoolboy is in a five-way share of the lead with fellow New South Welshmen Dimi Papadatos, Nathan Barbieri and Austin Bautista and WA's Braden Becker as the WA Open returns from a two-year COVID-19 hiatus.
They are one shot clear of Rick Kulacz (WA) and Queensland's Douglas Klein.
Guan relished the chance to test himself again a quality field of professionals.
"I think it is really good for me," he said. "I learn from them. They're much more experienced."
The WA Open is the second last event on the PGA Tour of Australasia schedule with the rewards for top finishes on the Order of Merit (money list) to be decided after next week's NT PGA Championship.
Papadatos, who went bogey-free, is one with much to gain as he's currently fourth on the OOM and the top three will get membership on the DP World Tour (formerly European Tour).
The top five all receive entry into the final stage of the Korn Ferry Tour qualifying school in the US later this year.
"I've just got to have high results, do what I can and see how it pans out," said Papadatos.
