FINGAL, Australia — Americans Hunter Haas and Daniel Summerhays each shot a 4-under 68 for a share of the lead with three others after Thursday's first round of the Moonah Classic

Australian veteran Peter O'Malley also had a 68, along with compatriot Andrew Bonhomme and Argentina's Miguel Carballo at the challenging 7,469-yard Moonah Links course on the Mornington Peninsula near Melbourne.

Americans Ben Dickerson, Kyle Reifers and Josh Teater were a stroke back in a tie for sixth along with Australian Michael Sim and South Africa's Garth Mulroy in the $600,000 tournament, co-sanctioned by the Nationwide and Australasian PGA tours.

Summerhays, who had seven birdies and three bogeys, and Haas said the layout commanded respect in the blustery conditions on Australia's southeast coast.

"The wind changes so much," Summerhays said. "You need to play smart, you need to try and stay away from the trouble."

Added Haas: "It's not an easy golf course — there are some good players shooting some bad scores."

One of those was South Korea-born New Zealand amateur Danny Lee, who won the Johnnie Walker Classic by a stroke last weekend in Perth to become the youngest winner on either the European or Australasian tours.

The 18-year-old Lee, who plans to turn pro after the Masters, had a share of the lead at 2 under after 12 holes but dropped four shots, including a double-bogey 6 on the 9th, to drop to 2 over.

He was tied with defending champion Ewan Porter and veteran Peter Fowler.

O'Malley, who first gained international recognition when he won the 1992 Scottish Open but hasn't won a tournament since the 2005 New Zealand PGA, is hoping his experience on the links course will help him end that drought.

"The more I play it I'm finding different ways to get around the golf course," he said. "There's a lot of thinking involved in playing the course.

"There are a few holes I think are a little bit severe in the driving areas. It's certainly a challenge but the way it's set up this week is pretty good."