Amateur Eccles shares lead in NSW Open

Young Victorian amateur Ben Eccles has made a blistering start to share the lead in a rain-interrupted first round at the NSW Open golf championship.

Eccles, 20, made seven birdies and an eagle in an eight-under-par 64 on the Greg Norman-designed Stonecutters Ridge course.

He was tied with NSW pro Darren Beck and New Zealander Hayden Beard who also posted 64s.

They were one shot clear of New Zealand amateur Tae Koh (65), NSW's Ewan Porter, Queenslander Tim Hart and another amateur Daniel Gale, from NSW.

Former US PGA Tour regulars Nathan Green (67) and Peter Lonard (68) made good starts.