Sterne has the edge after course record opening round in Scotland
Stern set the early pace at the Old Course after teeing off from the par-five 10th among the morning starters with a birdie on his first hole and another going into the turn, then picking up three more to sign a faultless card.
Should Stern's opening round still stand as the record at the close of the week, he would earn $10,000 through a new initiative on the DP World Tour in partnership with title sponsor Nexo.
Norwegian Andreas Halvorsen and South African Thomas Aiken - who set off together in the opening group - missed the chance to join Stern for a share of the lead, as both players bogeyed the last.
Louis Albertse, having starting on the back nine, also sits one shot behind his compatriot Sterne at four under in a three-way tie for second place.
England's John Parry, Jordan Smith, Matthew Baldwin, Joe Dean and Alex Fitzpatrick - who was briefly in the lead during the afternoon - are all in the mix at three under.
Conor Purcell is in a tie for 43rd after a one-over 73.
Sterne said: "When I was here on Tuesday, it was about double this wind and I lost about seven or eight balls. I wasn't off to the world's best start, but it is a lot calmer than it was then. I think Tuesday did me a bit of good.
The course is quite tricky even though the wind is not as bad as it has been in the practice rounds. I played well. I hit the ball well, better than I have been for a while so that was quite key. I drove it well off the tees as well so that helped. It is a draining golf course, you have got to hit a lot of good iron shots. One day at a time and I am happy with today, so it is a good start for me."
On the PGA Tour, Shane Lowry had a disappointing start to the FedEx St Jude Championship.
The Offaly man slid to a three-over par round of 73 at TPC Southwind, fully 11 shots behind early first-round leader Akshay Bhatia, who opened with a sparkling 62 in Memphis.
The tournament is the first of three FedExCup Playoffs events. The top 50 in the rankings will qualifying for the BMW Championship. Lowry entered the week ranked 17th so is assured of his place next week at Caves Valley Golf Club.
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