Deon Germishuys and Peter Launer Baek shared a one-stroke lead after posting six-under-par rounds of 65 on day one on Thursday of the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A.

South African Germishuys overcame an opening bogey to fire five birdies on the front nine and make the turn on four under par. Three more gains on the back nine, alongside a bogey, earned him a share of pole position, one clear of Denmark’s John Axelsen and Scotland’s Jack McDonald, heading into the second round.

The 24-year-old was pleased with his performance on day one at Newmachar Golf Club, a course he feels is suited to his game.

“I felt like I played really good today,” he said. “The whole game was good. I drove the ball well, my iron play was good, my wedge game was good, and I made a ton of putts – that really helped today.

“I like it when the greens are firmer, I spin the ball quite a lot and hit it high, so I feel like it benefits me. When you’re playing into the wind and going into a back flag, it’s easier to hit a lower shot with a long club and chase it into the back of the green. It’s difficult coming down wind, but I enjoyed it.”

Launer Baek posted six birdies in a bogey-free opening round to join Germishuys at the top of the leaderboard, and attributed his blemish-free scorecard to keeping the ball in play off the tee and putting well.

Home favourite McDonald shares third place with Denmark’s Axelsen on five-under-par, while 11 players are a shot further back in fifth, including Englishmen George Bloor, Brandon Robinson-Thompson, Lee Slattery and Jonathan Thomson.

Robin Williams opened with a two-under-par 69 for a share of 25th while Justin Walters and Louis Albertse were on one-under in a share of 38th. Bryce Easton, Dylan Naiddo and JC Ritchie all opened with rounds of level-par 71, while JJ Senekal and Wilco Nienaber were on one-over and two-over respectively.