Victorian Steve Jones leads the NSW Open after firing a course-record 8-under 64 at Stonecutters Ridge.

Playing in the morning, Jones capitalised on the good scoring conditions to roll in nine birdies and made just one bogey.

“Any time you go really low it feels good,” Jones said.

“I wanted to get off to a really good start; the conditions were pretty benign out there.”

“I was mindful of how the conditions are going to be tomorrow. I think it might be windy and pretty hot.”

Sitting a shot behind Jones is Web.com Tour player James Nitties and 19-year-old amateur Justin Warren.

At six-under the card New Zealander Josh Geary is outright fourth after the first round while a shot further back are Nathan Green and Daniel Fox.

Veteran golfer Peter Lonard had a hot round going but was brought undone with a double-bogey and bogey on his two final holes.

Jones, renowned as one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour of Australasia, took advantage of the wide open fairways during his round.

“I think that the course suits me this week. It’s very open off the tee which suits me because I can spray it a little bit,” he said.

“I didn’t hit as many drivers as I thought; I have a really good three wood at the moment so I have been hitting that a lot.”

“Hitting it long is a big advantage, I can fly to a lot of the down slopes that maybe some other guys might not be able to.”

Jones is still looking for his maiden win as a professional.

“I feel like I have been knocking on the door for a few years, I have been a pro for eight years now,” he said.

“My game feels good, I just have to get out of my own way to use all those mental cliches.”