Astley Golf Club's Steve Parry made a blistering start to the Ryder Cup Wales 2010 Welsh Open Young PGA Professional Championship, carding a five-under 65 to storm into a three-shot lead.
He finished ahead of second-placed Matthew Tottey, who has been runner-up the past two years.
On a tough links course which proved a nightmare for many players, the 29-year-old made a solid start with pars on the first five holes.
Birdies on the par-three sixth and par-four eighth moved him to two under but he finished the front nine with his only bogey of the 65-shot round, two off the course record of 63.
A formidable start to the back nine, with four birdies on the first six holes, moved him to five under and he saw out the remaining three holes without dropping a shot.
"I'm really pleased with my score today," said Parry, who was in the second group to tee off.
"I chipped and putted really well. I didn't hit it that great early on but I ground it out and started hitting it better on the back nine and towards the finish.
"The greens are really nice and have a good feel to them so that helped."
Parry believes his knowledge of the Bull Bay course was instrumental in his low score.
"I've played here quite a few times so that is an advantage," he said.
"There are quite a few holes where you can just hit it anywhere and, strangely, sometimes you are better off not hitting it down the middle of the fairway."
It may not be a surprise that Tottey was again among the low scorers, given his previous performances at this tournament, but he also had the advantage of knowing the course.
Having grown up just down the road, Tottey, now based at North Wales, shot four birdies to finish with a two-under 68.
"I played pretty solidly and I'm very familiar with the course as I've played it many times," said Tottey.
"I knew anything under par would be in with a shout but 65 is a great score.
"Hopefully I can play well again tomorrow and not finish second again."
Also representing the north was Welshman Gareth Jones, a professional at Sandiway Golf Club in Northwich.
He could have been even closer to Parry but, having been five under after nine holes, shot two bogeys and a double bogey to finish with a one-under 69.
"I'm fairly happy but it was a very disappointing finish," said Jones, 26.
"I had a six-foot putt on the 11th to go to six under but ended up three-putting it and then had a seven on the 15th so it was a bit frustrating and I was actually lucky to break par in the end.
"The conditions were extremely difficult and the wind really picked up on the back nine so I guess I should be happy with a 69."
It was a good day for the northern representatives as Westerhope's George Cowan also posted a one-under round to sit joint third and Bradford's Gareth Murray finished with a level-par 70.