Victorian Open golf: Kade McBride enjoys early lead at 13th Beach’s Creek Course

Kade McBride thought he’d finally have one over on roommate Jake McLeod but he came up just short, coming within a whisker of toppling one of his course records. See the day one wrap from the Victorian Open.

Queensland Open at the Pelican Waters Golf Club.Kade McBride

For a brief moment, Kade McBride thought he’d be able to walk back into the house he’s sharing with fellow professional Jake McLeod this week and boast about taking one of his course records.

It’s not as if McLeod needs any more prodding. He’s been in fantastic form to start 2025, but after holding or sharing the lead at the half-way point of the last three events, he hasn’t been able to convert one into his first professional win since 2018.

But for now, at least, he can still lay claim to the best mark at 13th Beach’s Creek Course as McBride came within a whisker of toppling his 11-under record.

“I know … because he talks about it regularly,” laughed McBride after a sizzling 10-under 62 to begin the Victorian Open on Thursday. “I’m staying with him this week. I was thinking about, ‘I can’t wait to break Jake’s course record’.”

Queensland Open at the Pelican Waters Golf Club.Kade McBride

Instead, 29-year-old McBride finished with par-par on his inward nine to go with eight birdies and an eagle as he vaulted to an early lead on the latest stop of the PGA Tour of Australasia.

It was a welcome return to the form for the Queenslander, who battled to his first top-40 finish at a professional event in close to a year at last week’s Webex Players Series event at Cobram Barooga.

“I had some scheduling issues throughout the middle of the year and at the end of the year I probably pushed myself a little bit too hard with back-to-back trips to Europe,” McBride said. “Then coming into the Aussie summer, it was tough.

“I suffered a bit long game wise which is unusual, because it’s generally the most consistent part of my game. I’ve been hitting the ball very average. (But) I’ve been doing a lot of hard work over the last six to eight weeks.

“It was probably one of the better rounds of golf I’ve played in terms of quality of golf shots I played and holing the putts.”

Jake McLeod has enjoyed another hot start, but can he hold on to secure his first professional win since 2018? Photo: Golf Australia

McBride holds a two-shot lead from New Zealand’s Josh Geary (-8) after the first round with, you guessed it, McLeod again hot on their heels. He was joined at seven-under 65 by Siddharth Nadimpalli, Mat Goggin, Kyle Michel, Austin Bautista and amateur Declan O’Donovan.

It’s another hot start for McLeod, who also posted his score on the Creek Course as players were split across that layout and the Beach Course at Barwon Heads.

“I’ve got a lot of confidence in my game at the moment,” McLeod said. “I’ve been in contention the last few weeks which is nice, but it would be nice to get the job done.

“I don’t think I did a very good job on Sunday at Rosebud, but I thought I did a good job in Perth, and last week at Cobram, it was just one of those days. I felt like I played good on the Saturday, and on the Sunday the putts started to hit edges instead of going in.

“That’s how it goes sometimes. (But) I think I’m getting better in those situations.”

Japanese duo Shina Kanazawa and Madoka Kimura stole the show on the opening day of the women’s event.

Kanazawa signed for a seven-under 66 to lead her compatriot by one.

Australians Robyn Choi and Kelsey Bennett were a shot further back in a share of third at five-under.

“The goal today was to get out there and get a decent number in,” Bennett said. “I’m still learning every day but it feels like it’s getting better.”

Australian Open champion Jiyai Shin had a tough start to be just even-par.