American Peter Uihlein jumps out of the blocks at ISPS HANDA Perth International

Peter Uilhein loves playing at Lake Karrinyup, and you can tell by looking at his score today.

Peter Uihlein takes the opening round lead. Photo credit: ISPS Handa Perth International

First round wrap courtesy of the PGA of Australia.

Back on one of his favourite courses American Peter Uihlein has played a brilliant first round to lead the ISPS HANDA Perth International.

Live Scores: ISPS HANDA Perth International

Teeing off in the afternoon, Uihlein stunned with his 7-under 65 scored in challenging wind conditions.

While Uihlein’s round got off to an awkward start, missing the fairway with his iron shot off the 1st tee, he was happy to escape with a bogey when it could easily have been a triple.

He quickly recovered to add birdies to his card at the 3rd, 4th and 7th holes before a chip in eagle at the 9th really ignited his round.

“Playing out here, it’s always a treat and it’s one of my favourite courses”, Uihlein said after his round.

“It is an Alister Mackenzie course, and we don’t really get that many courses in America ‑‑ obviously we’ve got Augusta and then Cypress, but we don’t really get to play his courses that often.”

Finishing with another three birdies on the back-9, Uihlein picked up where he left off after the 2014 ISPS HANDA Perth International when he finished tied 9th.

Playing in the morning field Indian Shiv Kapur battled through a shoulder injury that almost ruled him out of the tournament to shoot 6-under 66. He is joined by Frenchman Romain Wattel at tied second.

“I came here, I think eight years ago for the Australian Amateur in Adelaide, and I got a very good picture of Australia, so I thought that would be a good idea to come back”, Wattel said.

“But all the time, the tournaments in Australia were not very good on my schedule, and this time, after Malaysia, it was perfect. So I thought, that’s the one.”

Sitting outright fourth after the first round is Rhein Gibson who fired 5-under 67 the day after flying into Perth from the PGA TOUR.

“The trip I just did was a little difficult, in fact I showed up to Sydney not knowing where my bags were on Wednesday and luckily they were there on a different flight,” Gibson said.

A group of seven players all shot opening rounds of 4-under 68 to be tied 5th; Brett Rumford (AUS), Cormac Sharvin (NIR), Scott Arnold (AUS), Anthony Houston (AUS), Todd Sinnott (AUS) and Nick Cullen (AUS).

The second round of the ISPS HANDA Perth International will tee off tomorrow morning at 6.40am with Uihlein in action at Lake Karrinyup Country Club at 7am.

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