Daniel Hillier is one of the leaders at the DP World Tour's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.
His nine-under 63 in the opening round on Thursday (Friday NZ Time) was the top score of the day on the St Andrews Old Course, tied for third at the three-course event, two strokes off the lead.
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Hillier made eagles at both the fifth and 14th holes and birdied at the fourth, seventh and then three consecutive holes from the 10th to 13th.
The bogey-free round puts him in a good position for his second round at the Carnoustie course on Friday, teeing off from the 10th hole at 11.23am local time (11.23pm NZT), as he chases a top-70 finish in the Road to Dubai Rankings.
The best performer at Carnoustie in the opening round was 12th-placed Jon Rahm, with a seven-under 65.
Among fellow Kiwis, Sam Jones is tied for 27th at five-under, while Kazuma Kobori is in a share of 96th after a two-under opening round.
Jones made six birdies and one bogey at the St Andrew's Old Course, including four on the back-nine, while Kobori made an eagle, three birdies and three bogeys at Carnoustie, with two bogeys coming in his final four holes.
Jones, who needs strong results to push into the top-115 to earn his DP World Tour card for 2025, tees off on Friday from the 10th hole at Carnoustie at 9.22am local time (9.22pm NZT), while Kobori also goes off from the 10th at Kingsbarn Links at 10.50am local time (10.50pm NZT).
Meanwhile, in the US, Ryan Fox is tied for 25th after the first round of the PGA Tour's Sanderson Farms Championship in Mississippi.
Looking for solid results over the next month to retain his PGA Tour card for 2025, Fox carded a five-under 67 at The Country Club of Jackson on Thursday (Friday NZT) but is still seven strokes off the lead.
Fox made a birdie-birdie finish, among seven birdies and two bogeys in his round. He made birdies at the first, fifth, eighth and ninth holes to make the turn at three-under.
Compatriot Tim Wilkinson is back in a share of 119th after a two-over 74, featuring a birdie and three bogeys.
Both Kiwis will start second rounds on Friday from the 10th hole, with Fox teeing up at 8.05am local time (2.05am Saturday NZT) and Wilkinson getting going at 1.56pm local time (7.56am Saturday NZT).
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