Spain's Garcia leads in Brisbane as storm halts play

Spain's Sebastian Garcia held a two-stroke lead at the European tour's season-opening Australian PGA Championship before lightning halted play in the opening round at Royal Queensland on Thursday.

Garcia was seven-under through 15 holes, two strokes ahead of Australia's Daniel Gale, who won a BMW from the event's sponsor with a hole-in-one on the par-three 11th before play was suspended after his 12th hole.

Sydney man Gale, playing with his first DP World Tour card after a strong domestic season, hit an eight iron off the tee which thudded into the bank of a greenside bunker on the right and rolled in.

The mullet-haired 29-year-old took off his trademark yellow bucket hat and pumped his fist in the air in celebration.

Players were allowed preferred lies on Thursday due to the amount of rain the course has taken from recent storms.

A group of four had the early clubhouse lead after shooting four-under 67s, including New Zealand's Ryan Fox, China's Ding Wenyi and Tapio Pulkannen of Finland.

They were joined by Colombian Sebastian Munoz and local golfers Nathan Barbieri and Jye Pickin, all of whom had yet to finish their rounds.

The local drawcards started well, with former Masters champion Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee shooting three-under, while British Open winner Cam Smith carded a two-under 69 after starting from the 10th.

Smith, a three-times winner of the event, had two bogeys with his four birdies but was happy with his putting in his first outing since coming back to his home state Queensland.

"It's started to feel really good this week, just being back at home and being on some familiar greens is probably good timing," said the former world number two, now on the LIV tour.

"I feel like I've hit a few good putts in the last couple of tournaments ad not many have gone in so it was good to see a couple go in."

Australian defending champion Elvis Smylie also started with a 69 off the 10th tee. REUTERS