Birthday boy Michael Sim returned to some hot form on Thursday to put himself in contention to win the $US1.75 million ($A1.89 million) Perth International at Lake Karrinyup.
Sim, celebrating his 30th birthday, shot a six-under 66 to enter the clubhouse in equal second with Scotland’s Peter Whiteford, with the pair three shots adrift of Victorian John Wade.
Five-time European Tour winner Brett Rumford defied his recent poor form to shoot a five-under 67, while 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel sits one stroke further back.
Wade is at nine-under with one hole remaining in his opening round.
Sim was ranked inside the world’s top 50 in 2009, but he has since slipped to 956th after taking a step back from the sport last year.
Rumford entered the co-sanctioned European Tour event having missed the cut in 10 of his past 11 tournaments.
But the 37-year-old was able to maintain his composure when the going got tough during the latter part of his round on Thursday.
“The last nine holes I just felt the struggle in there a little bit,” Rumford said.
“I just wasn’t as clean as obviously my first nine or ten holes.
“But outside of that it’s exactly what I was hoping for.
“I’m not too far off the lead.
“Obviously it’s just a nice, refreshing start compared to what I’ve been doing recently.”