The Sydneysider has a one-shot advantage to take into Friday after shooting a 6-under-par 66 at Kalgoorlie Golf Course as he chases his third title for 2025.

Sitting in a share of second place are two well-credentialled West Australians, Curtis Luck and Brett Rumford, and reigning PNG Open champion Cory Crawford (Qld). 

Playing a busy schedule which has included 24 Official World Golf Ranking events already this year, predominantly on the Sunshine Tour, Bautista has produced an impressive six top-three finishes, making him arguably the biggest threat this week.

“As everyone kind of knows, I'm a pretty confident guy regardless (of results), but I'm happy to be playing here. I love Kalgoorlie. I enjoy the golf course a lot and it's good to be back,” Bautista said.

“What I did (going to Africa) could be a pathway for what other people might look at doing in the future.

“It's a good option because you have a full calendar, you don't have a big break and you can go and be competitive, play for world ranking points, play tournament golf with cuts.

“It kind of helps (this week) because I'm not coming off a big break. I'm coming off mid-season.”

Playing in the second group of the day off the 10th tee, Bautista took advantage of the perfect early morning scoring conditions, turning in 5-under-par 31 which included an eagle on the par-5 11th hole and a run of four consecutive birdies from the 15th.

His second nine, as the breeze built, was more of a mixed bag with three birdies and two bogeys, including a three-putt on the par-3 eighth when he was at 7-under for his round.

“Any golf course suits me at the moment,” Bautista said.

“I just like playing golf. Whatever course I get to, I back myself. I just really enjoy this golf course.

“I would say if anything, the greens are the best I've ever seen them. They are by far one of the best sets of greens I've putted on this season, including in South Africa.”

In the afternoon groups, Curtis Luck had a share of the lead until he double-bogeyed the par-4 14th hole following an errant tee shot and a three-putt.

But in just his fourth tournament start of the year, and first since The Open Championship at Royal Portrush, last year’s Australian Open runner-up birdied the par-5 final hole to sign off on a 67.

“I don’t know if I felt rusty or what, but look, there's definitely some rust there,” Luck said,

“The red dirt might be masking it a little bit, but I played pretty well today. Had a few hiccups, a couple of bad shots on the back nine which cost me, but all in all, not too bad.”

Rumford finished off his 5-under-par round with a trademark chip-in eagle on the last, while Crawford, the current Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit leader, had six birdies in his 67 as he chases his second title of the season.

Playing alongside Bautista in one of the feature groups, WA duo Jordan Doull and Ryan Peake ended up well back after 5-over-par 77s, both being brought undone by the par-5 second. Peake’s triple-bogey eight was three shots better than the horror 11 recorded by the 2024 runner-up.

- Paul Munnings.