Dane matches Wade's heroics

UPDATE: An unlikely pair share the glory at the top of the leaderboard on day one of the ISPS Handa Perth International at Lake Karrinyup Country Club on Thursday.

Danish hot shot Thorbjorn Olesen matched Victorian veteran John Wade to shoot an eight under 64 tournament record in the opening round of the $1.75m event.

SIM FINDS FORM ON HIS BIRTHDAY | GOSS LOOKS AT POSITIVES | $1.6m WA EVENT IN LIMBO

Olesen, 24, went bogey free and shot eight birdies this afternoon to match Wade’s effort from earlier in the day.

The Dane was paired with marquee group of Frenchman Victor Dubuisson, who finished at one under and Australian Geoff Ogilvy, who shot one over.

Wade, 46, shot four birdies and one eagle through his opening six holes and then birdied the third and seventh to move to eight under in an outstanding opening round.

WA’s Michael Sim had seven birdies to finish his day at six under, leading the local charge.

Sim was once touted as one of the sport’s next big things, but has spent the past few years in the wilderness after struggling with injury and a heavy travel schedule in the US.

Tournament favourite Charl Schwartzel, of South Africa, ended with birdies on his final two holes to finish lurk just off the pace four under.

Jason Dufner was solid in his return from a neck injury at two under, with Victor Dubuisson finishing at one under and defending champion Jin Jeong managing par, despite four bogeys.

Leading Australians Geoff Ogilvy and Steven Bowditch will have a fight on their hands to make the cut today after finishing one over the card in their opening rounds.

Wade, who is the teaching professional at the Commonwealth Golf Club in Melbourne, surprised even himself, describing his bogey-free round, which included six birdies and one eagle, as ridiculous.

Wade missed the cut at the WA Open last week and was the last man to make it through pre-qualifying at Mt Lawley Golf Club on Monday.

“It feels a bit weird actually,” he said. “I certainly haven’t been top of the leaderboard for a hell of a long time, not playing much golf these days.”

Wade doubted he would take up the exemption on the European Tour until the end of 2015 if he were to claim the unlikely win.

“I know where I’m at,” he said.

“I’m closer to the senior’s tour, simple as that. But it would be huge (to win). My CV is pretty short and small.”

Olesen was bogey-free with eight birdies for the day, but admitted he was lucky his off-target drive on the 18th bounced off a tree and fell just off the fairway allowing him to make par.

Olesen, who splits his time between the European Tour and the PGA Tour, said teeing off in a group alongside Dubuisson and Ogilvy had given him confidence.

He hoped he could capitalise this morning when the wind would not be as strong.

“It’s been a few years since I won,” Olesen said.

“It would be really, really nice to get some confidence back and to get a win would be amazing.”

Royal Fremantle young gun Oliver Goss was earlier at seven under, but finished his first round at four under after dropping a shot on the 16th and double bogeying the 18th.

Defending champion Jin Jeong stumbled with four bogeys through his round to finish his day at par.