Harrison Crowe was the first of the Australians in at three-under 69 that could have been even better if not for a bogey at the difficult par-4 9th, his final hole of the day before being joined on the same score by Joshua Greer and Karl Vilips al tied for 13th.

With wind sweeping across the Amata Spring Country Club layout, the typically easier front nine was anything but. The par-3 8th at 236 yards particularly giving players trouble throughout Thursday.

Crowe made par after holing from eight feet following an average first putt from the middle of the green. The New South Welshman admitting he had doubts just before impact on the tee.

Taking a 6-iron in the hopes of hitting it hard and avoiding the water left, Crowe told Golf Australia magazine he felt the swing he produced would send the ball left and held on through impact and finished with one hand on the club, and quite a decent shot as it turned out.

Karl Vilips' round could have been much better, but he is far from out of things in Thailand. PHOTO: Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.

He wasn’t as lucky at the par-4 9th when he missed the green left to a back-left pin position and watched as his chip rolled off the front of the green. But the reigning NSW Open Champion managed to get up-and-down with his next effort.

Crowe suggesting the round helped return some confidence that has been dented after some below par results overseas in the middle of the year.

“Pretty pleased with how I played today, it was pretty solid. Didn’t do a whole lot wrong, wasn’t spectacular, but I took my chances when I had them and limited mistakes,” he told this publication.

“The confidence hasn’t been running too red hot, so to start out this week solid is a good way to get things moving back in the right directions is nice.”

“I have always loved the aspect of travelling with teams and I think I have always played better golf in that sort of environment ... It’s the perfect setup, hotel, food, golf course around the corner, rooming with mates, it’s like a slumber party.” - Harrison Crowe.

Greer was in the second wave of tee times off the 1st hole, and wasted no time making his first birdie at the par-5 2nd. A bogey followed however at the very next hole, as well as one at the par-5 7th that must have delivered a slight sense of panic for the West Australian who is still making his way back after discovering he had been playing for months with a fractured wrist overseas.

“I fractured my wrist three months ago, so I’ve not been playing much. But I played two Aussie Tour events leading up to this to get something in,” Greer said. “I played okay, just my scoring wasn’t great, I was just rusty everywhere, but I’ve been cleaning it up this week.”

Still recovering from a fractured wrist, Joshua Greer off to a solid start at Amata Spring. PHOTO: Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship.

The third member of the trio at three-under was Karl Vilips, who had a chance to be much higher on the leaderboard after the US-based player reached four-under through 11 holes without a birdie on his card.

The par-3 13th put an end to the bogey-free run, a recovering birdie at the 15th quickly discounted by a double bogey on 16.

“Just a bad choice, bad decision on 16 led to a double and didn’t make any putts today, so three-under is about as bad as I could have scored,” Vilips said. “Lots of positives still. I feel great, it can only get better from here. Make some more putts tomorrow.”

Making putts was also the issue for Jeffrey Guan who signed for an even-par 72 in the morning and was headed for the putting green in the afternoon to improve before day two after being touted as a big chance this week.

He is alongside Hayden Hopewell whose day was cruelled by three bogeys on the back nine, including at the last, while Connor McKinney is at one-under-par. The elder statesman of the squad Lukas Michel rounding things out with a 78.

Although each of those even par or better acknowledged things could have been better on day one, the spirits are high within the team.

“I love it, I don’t get to spend a lot of time with the guys on the team and when I do, I enjoy it. Rooming with Jeff (Guan) this week, that’s been a blast,” Vilips said. “I enjoy representing Australia and wearing the gear and the flag on the bag, it’s a lot of fun.”

Crowe echoing the Stanford University players sentiments when discussing staying on site with his team and the Australian staff.

“I have always loved the aspect of travelling with teams and I think I have always played better golf in that sort of environment, so to kind of do that again this week and be amongst all the boys is and have a good time,” he said. “It’s the perfect setup, hotel, food, golf course around the corner, rooming with mates, it’s like a slumber party.”