Teeing off in the second last group Dodt who turned 24 on Australia Day stormed home with four birdies in his final four holes to join Gates and Smail atop of the leaderboard with the trio holding a one stroke lead over fellow Aussie Andrew Bonhomme and American D.J.Brigman at the Australasian /Nationwide Tour co-sanctioned event.  
 
Dodt, from Queensland is most noted for a stellar amateur career which saw him crowned the 2007 Australian Stroke Play Champion. He has since plied his trade on the Australasian and Asian Tours since turning professional late in 2007. He finished 15th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2009, his best season to date and admitted to not bringing form into this week’s event.
 
 “I actually played last at the Australian PGA Championship then had a month off and only started practising only three weeks ago. I honestly haven’t been hitting it that well so I’m a bit surprised,” said Dodt who played The Hills course for the first time today.
 
“I just played really well all-round today. I hit it well off the tee, had a lot of chances and made more putts on the back nine, so I’m really happy.”
 
“I’d like to think my mental game was part of my strength and that’s what worked well for me today.”  
 
In a similar story, three birdies on his final three holes saw Nationwide Tour rookie Robert Gates also join the lead just minutes before Dodt.  
 
The 24 year old from Gainesville Florida playing in his first ever Nationwide Tour event opened his campaign with an eagle at the par five first and picked up four more shots with only a blemish at the fifth to be five under with five to play. A bogey on 14 was a blip on the radar as the six foot six Texas University Graduate gathered momentum to pick up three shots in his final three holes to seal a spectacular first round.
 
“It was alot of fun, I feel like I left a lot of opportunities out there though. I didn’t really birdie any of the easy holes but I did hit alot of great shots and made up for them on the harder ones,” said Gates whose partner Lauren made the trip from the US to caddy for him.
 
Smail is flying the flag for the locals and looked likely to be the lone leader before the Aussie and American young guns made their charge.
 
The affable Hamilton based player, also the highest ranked in the field quickly shook off any uncertainty he held before the tournament.  The 39 year old multiple Japan Tour winner flew into Queenstown on Wednesday morning with very little practice after missing last week’s NZ PGA due to sponsor commitments but dispelled early doubts with birdies at the first two holes.
 
“After those two birdies I certainly got my confidence back. I’m still not 100% happy with the way I hit it today, but I putted superbly,” he said. “Even the putts I missed were right on the line I wanted to hit them. It’s almost a year since I have putted that well.”

With his confidence rising Smail, the 2001 New Zealand Open Champion continued to turn in one of his best putting performances for a year to shoot a seven under 65 total with further birdies at the 10th, 11th, 14th, 15th and 17th.

He took 27 putts enjoying near perfect morning conditions.
 
One shot behind the leading trio are Australian Andrew Bonhomme and American D.J.Brigman.
 
Queenslander Andrew Bonhomme, who was fourth here last year and tied for sixth in the New Zealand PGA Championship at Clearwater last week carried his good form into the Hills firing a flawless 66 with three birdies on each nine.  The Queenslander had his best year on the Australasian Tour in 2009, winning the Western Australia PGA Championship and recording five top-10 finishes.
  
A further shot behind Bonhomme and in an eight way tie for sixth place are Australians Andrew Buckle, Nick Flanagan, Ryan Haller, Michael Wright and 2009 Australian Golf Digest Rookie of the year Matthew Griffin.

Aussie amateur Matt Jager had an impressive start, shooting a solid four under par 68 to finish the day in a tie for 14th alongside fellow Aussies Won Joon Lee, Bronson La Cassie, Stephen Leaney and Adam Crawford.

Australian Peter Lonard, playing in his first event in two months after missing the Australian summer due to injury finished the day on one under to be sitting in a tie for 61st place.

Leading Scores after Round 1 of the Michael Hill New Zealand Open being played at the par 72, 6610 Metres The Hills Golf Club course (a- denotes amateur):

65: David Smail (NZL), Robert Gates (USA), Andrew Dodt (AUS).
66: D.J. Brigman (USA), Andrew Bonhomme (AUS).
67: Andrew Buckle (AUS), Matthew Griffin (AUS), Dave Schultz (USA), Daniel Summerhays (USA), Darron Stiles (USA), Nick Flanagan (AUS), Michael Wright (AUS), Ryan Haller (AUS).
68: Chris Kirk (USA), Won Joon Lee (AUS), Bronson La'Cassie (AUS), Kelly Grunewald (USA), Matt Jager (am, AUS), Stephen Leaney (AUS), Adam Crawford (AUS), Jon Mills (CAN).
69: Kevin Kisner (USA), Jarrod Lyle (AUS), Tag Ridings (USA), Michael Curtain (AUS), Jeff Brehaut (USA), Adam Bland (AUS), Stephen Dartnall (AUS), Brian Smock (USA), Jin Park (USA), Trevor Murphy (USA), Clint Rice (AUS), Jeff Gallagher (USA), Mitchell Brown (AUS), Josh Geary (NZL), Paul Sheehan (AUS), Keegan Bradley (USA), Scott Laycock (AUS), Barrett Jarosch (CAN), Tim Wood (AUS), Justin Hicks (USA), Joe Affrunti (USA), Phil Tataurangi (NZL).