A hole-in-one has helped propel New Zealand’s Mark Brown into the lead after the first round of the Victorian PGA Championship.

Brown signed for a seven-under-par 65 on Thursday at the Heritage Golf and Country Club on the north-east edge of Melbourne to hold a one-shot advantage over Victorian Terry Pilkadaris.

Kiwi Gareth Paddison is a shot further back alongside Victorian Michael Choi and New South Welshman Kurt Barnes.

Brown’s blistering round – one shot shy of equalling the course record – was highlighted by the ace on the par-3 151m 17th hole.

“I had the right club and hit the perfect shot in,” said Brown, who hit a crisp 8-iron.

“It stopped about three metres short and rolled in; it always looked like it was going in.”

Brown said playing with compatriot Mike Hendry lifted him in the first round of the 2014 PGA Tour of Australasia season.

“It’s quite hard to know how you are going to come out and play after such a big break,” said Brown.

“But it’s a good track, it’s reasonably generous off the tee and the greens are perfect.

“I think the challenge this week will be the wind.”

Hendry finished with a four-under 68 to be tied for fifth with Alex Hawley (NSW), Paul Sheehan (Vic), Jamie Arnold (NSW), Michael Long (NZ), Euan Walters (Vic), Steve Jones (Vic) and amateur Ben Eccles (Vic).