The left-hander could have gone even lower if not for a bogey on his last hole -- the ninth -- but holds a one-stroke lead over Japan’s Kunihiro Kamii and Australian David McKenzie, with three others a shot further back.
The U.S. $1 million tournament at at Damai Indah Golf’s stunning Jack Nicklaus-designed Bumi Serpong Damai course is the season opener for both OneAsia and the Japan Golf Tour, with the winner grabbing a $180,000 slice of the purse.
Paddison has already shown some form this year having won on the PGA Tour of Australasia, but he was nevertheless surprised with his first-round effort.
“It was a bit out of left field, actually. I didn’t expect that of myself,” the 33-year-old said. ”I putted exceptionally well -- played really steady really -- and and all of a sudden you’re standing on the last hole at nine under. It was a pity about that last one.”
Paddison eagled the par five fifth and 18th in similar fashion, hitting driver and four iron to the green before draining putts of 20 and 35 feet respectively.
The Kiwi has been a professional for 12 years but has never won a tournament of this stature and is keen to take his game to the next level.
“I think I have made really big improvements recently thanks to a lot of work with my coach Dennis McDade,” he said. “I really want to step it up this year. I want big things to happen.”
McKenzie was also pleased with his effort on his first serious outing of the year after a bout of tendinitis.
“I played in the pro-am and didn’t think these sorts of scores were out there, but while the greens are very tricky, if you get it in the right place you can leave yourself with some make-able putts,” he said.
Kamii is also looking for his first win on a top-tier tour and could have had a share of the lead if not for a costly bogey on the relatively easy par-five 18th after putting his tee shot in the water.
“I am a bit angry about that,” said the 32-year-old from Osaka, “but I am still happy with my round.”
Several OneAsia champions kept themselves well in the hunt with excellent first rounds including Michael Hendry (67), four-time winner Liang Wenchong (67), and 2012 Order of Merit winner Kim Bi-o (68) -- who triple-bogeyed the eighth.
China’s Ouyang Zheng (66) and Li Haotong (67) also put in a great effort, while Prom Meesawat was top of the Thai contingent with a 69.
Two local players, Asep Saefulloh and Andik Mauludin, put in good rounds, with both carding a round of 67 which puts them in a share of 8th place. Jordan Irawan is 2 shots further back in a tie for 34th, with Danny A. Wdjajaya, Bramantio Adi and George Gandranata the only other local players under par after round 1.
The collaboration between OneAsia and the Japan Tour means the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia PGA Championship, presented by the Indonesia Port Corporation, had drawn one of the strongest fields ever assembled in the world’s fourth most populous nation -- headlined by Major winner Y.E. Yang, who was in the afternoon session.
Scores after the first round of the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia PGA Championship, presented by Indonesia Port Corporation:
64 - Gareth PADDISON (NZL)
65 - Kunihiro KAMII (JPN), David McKENZIE (AUS), Michio MATSUMURA (JPN)
66 - Daisuke KATAOKA (JPN), KIM Tae-hoon (KOR), OUYANG Zheng (CHN)
67 - Ryuko TOKIMATSU (JPN), LI Hao-tong (CHN), KIM Gi-whan (KOR), Michael HENDRY (NZL), David SMAIL (NZL), Asep SAEFULLOH (INA), KANG Sung-hoon (KOR), PARK Sang-hyun (KOR), Andik MAULUDIN (INA) JANG Ik-jae (KOR), Juvic PAGUNSAN (PHI), MAENG Dong-seop (KOR), JANG Dong-kyu (KOR)
Selected:
69 - Jordan IRAWAN (INA)
71 - Denny A. WIDJADYA (INA), Bramantio ADI (INA), George GANDRANATA (INA)
72 - Junaidi IBRAHIM (INA)
74 - Ade SEBUL (INA), Jamel ONDO (INA), Kurnia HERISIANDY SANTOSO (INA)
75 - HARDJITO (INA), Asep CAPRIE (INA), Rory HIE (INA)
76 - Ian ANDREW (INA), Fahmi REZA (INA)
77 - Rinaldi ADIYANDONO (INA), RUDIANTO (INA), William SJAICHUDIN (INA)
78 - SANUSI (INA), Ramadhan ALWIE (INA), ILYASSYAK (INA)
79 - Benny KASIADI (INA), SARMILIH (INA)
DSQ - ABRAHAMSYAH (INA)
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