Jake McLeod celebrated his 26th birthday with one of the best rounds of his European Tour at the Celtic Classic in Wales.

McLeod, the talented, young Queenslander who has already won a New South Wales Open, shot an opening round six-under par 65 to be tied-second at the Celtic Manor course.

Thomas Pieters of Belgium, making his first start for some months, leads the way with a 64.

McLeod rolled in birdie putts on the ninth, 11th, 12th, 14th and 15th holes in the key stretch of his round before a bogey at the 17th took his momentum. Then an eagle three at the par-five 18th took him vaulting back up the leaderboard.

The Townsville product’s best finish on the European Tour this year was sixth at the ISPS Handa Vic Open.

The Celtic Classic was good to the bunch of Australians playing; Maverick Antcliff (68), Min Woo Lee and Jason Scrivener (both 69) all shot under par figures.

MEANWHILE in Scotland, MINJEE LEE was the leading Australian on the first day of the Ladies Scottish Open at North Berwick. Lee, who is coming off two top-five finishes in America, was one-under par through 12 holes when darkness stopped play, tied for 12th behind Nicole Broch Larsen of of Denmark, who carded four-under.

ROD PAMPLING shot an opening 68 to be in a tie for the lead after the first round of the Champions Tour’s major, the Senior Players Championship, in Akron, Ohio.

European Tour leaderboard

LPGA Tour leaderboard