Australia’s nine under opening round trails Scotland by one stroke, with Connor Syme leading the way for the Scots with a six under 66, which was the low round of the day on the 6,386-metre Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club course.

Syme, the reigning Australian Amateur Champion, was quick out of the blocks moving getting to five under through his opening nine holes before finishing with seven birdies and one bogey in total. Team mate Grant Forrest, a member of the winning 2015 Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup Team, added a four under 68 while Robert MacIntyre had a non-counting three under 69.

“The players know they have a good chance to do well here, and they are all pretty highly ranked in the world,” said Scotland captain Claire Queen, whose team prepared for the hot and humid conditions in Orlando, Florida, last week. “It’s been a really good first day, and that will give them more belief for the remainder of the championship.”

Scotland's Connor Syme had the lowest round on day one. PHOTO: Steven Gibbons/USGA

Scotland’s total of 134 tied the third lowest first-round score in WATC history. The USA Team set the opening-round record with a 131 in 2012 and also posted a 132 in 2004.

“The key was to get it right off the tee, and then it would give you some chances,” said Syme, who made birdies on four of his opening six holes. “There’s a few par-5s you can get up on, and my strength today was accuracy off the tee, so I had a lot of good opportunities.”

EISENHOWER TROPHY TEAM SCORES

Davis, the 2015 Australian Amateur Champion, led the way for the Aussie trio making seven birdies en route to a five under 67, while fellow New South Welshman Endycott surged to a 68 with four consecutive birdies on the back nine. Recently crowned US Amateur Champion Luck was solid in carding a three under 69, which was the non-counting score.

“We’ve come here with high expectations,” Australian captain, Matt Cutler, said.

“We told the guys not to look at the scoreboards because on day one there are two different courses, and it can change so quickly.”

Cameron Davis (left) celebrates his birdie at the par-4 10th hole with team strength and conditioning coach Luke Mackey during the first round. PHOTO: Steven Gibbons/USGA.

Davis, Endycott and Luck are aiming to become the fourth Australian team to win the Eisenhower Trophy. It has been 20 years since Australia won the coveted title, when Jamie Crow, Brett Partridge, David Gleeson and Jarrod Moseley hoisted the coveted trophy.

Spain is a further shot back in third place at eight under. Mario Galiano, competing in his second consecutive WATC, fired a 67, while his teammate Manuel Elvira added a 69.

“It is important to post a good score early because of the weather, because it is so hot,” Spanish captain, Luis Mendez, said. “Playing in the morning is an advantage, and you have less hot weather.”

Galiano, who helped his country win the 2014 European Amateur Team Championship, made four birdies and one bogey on the outward nine at Iberostar.

“I played really solid around the course,” Galiano said. “I hit the fairways, put the ball in good positions, and I am very confident with the irons, so I also hit the greens to give myself opportunities.”

EISENHOWER TROPHY INDIVIDUAL SCORES

Ireland, who played its first round on the par-71 Mayakoba El Camaleon course, Poland, and Thailand are all tied for fourth at six under.

Twenty-six teams broke par in the first round and 52 sub-par scores counted, the second-highest total in WATC history.

The WATC is a biennial international amateur competition conducted by the International Golf Federation (IGF), which comprises 147 national governing bodies in 141 countries and 22 professional members.