Micheluzzi leads Aussie bid on Trump Scottish course
Leading the Australian challenge on Thursday at the Scottish course, which is owned by the US President, was David Micheluzzi, who shot a one-under 71 to lie four behind.
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.
Sterne revealed afterwards that he had had to restock his golf bag with new balls after he had lost plenty while playing in strong winds in practice as Scotland was hit by Storm Floris which battered the Aberdeenshire coastline.
But the 43-year-old took advantage of much calmer conditions on Thursday.
"The course is very tricky even though the wind is not as bad as it was in the practice round on Tuesday and I played well," said Sterne.
"It was about double this wind on Tuesday and I lost about seven or eight balls. I think that actually did me a bit of good," added the world No.1049.
Should Stern's opening round still stand as the record at the close of the week, he would earn $US10,000 ($A15,000) through a new initiative on the European tour in partnership with event's sponsors.
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.
Micheluzzi was the only one of the six-strong Aussie contingent to finish under-par on a difficult day for several of them, with Elvis Smylie shooting 73, Jason Scrivener 76, Danny List 78, Brett Coletta 80 and Daniel Gale 83
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