Defending champ Cam Pollard leads after the first round of the 2021 Victorian Inclusive Championship at Melbourne’s Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club.

Pollard (Sawtell) fired a brilliant 75 to lead by one stroke over fellow New South Welshmen Geoff Nicholas (The Lakes) and Lochie Smith (Sawtell), who each carded 76 during classic Melbourne wintery conditions on Thursday.

Pollard attributed his fine score to a hot flat stick, finishing with just 25 putts.

“It was one of those rounds where the putter saved me,” Pollard said.

“The conditions were brutal and it’s easy to rack up big numbers on the card if you miss greens in the wrong place.”

Both Nicholas and Smith dropped shots early, but hung tough down the stretch to stay within touch.

Queenslander Jamie Turner (Links Hope Island) leads the nett division by two, while Kath Tanner (The Links Shell Cove) had a great start to give her a significant edge on her challengers with 35 stableford points, leading by five over Victorian Rod Paykel (RACV Healesville).

The championship finishes on Friday.

Click HERE for live scoring.