Teeing it up in this week’s Hero Open on the DP World Tour, Papadatos fired an opening round of six-under 66 to sit three back of standalone leader Sean Crocker.

Played at the Fairmont St Andrews as opposed to The Old Course where Smith triumphed, the 31-year-old Papadatos went bogey-free around the par-72.

Starting on the 10th tee on Thursday, Papadatos got his round off to a great start with three consecutive birdies beginning at the 11th hole, the New South Welshman adding three more birdies on the front nine to share 13th.

Crocker had his own run of low scores early in his round.

A birdie at the par-5 3rd signalled the start of a five hole stretch where the American went six-under and an eventual front nine of 30.

Bogey at the 10th slowed his momentum, but the son of former Zimbabwean test cricketer Gary bounced back with four birdies in five holes and a 63 as he chases his first DP World Tour win after a tough run of missed cuts.

"Nine missed cuts. Mentally that was the toughest thing I’ve gone through so far,” Crocker told the DP World Tour website. “People speak about the mental side of sport but that’s probably the darkest I’ve been in life on a golf course.

"It’s the first time I’ve had bad things happen to me on the golf course. And it’s just a case of having to grow up.”

Of Papadatos’ six fellow Aussies in the field, Zach Murray produced the best performance signing for a four-under 68, while Scott Hend and Jake McLeod sit in a share of 82nd two shots further back.

Austin Bautista (72), Jarryd Felton (72) and Blake Windred (73) will have their work cut out to make the weekend on a low scoring course.