Newcastle US PGA Tour star Nathan Green will start today's second round at the top of the leaderboard, but Charlestown's James Nitties is just one shot behind.

Green played in the cooler and calmer morning conditions and made the most of it to shoot a seven-under-par 64.

The 34-year-old Toronto professional started with a bogey on the 10th hole, but he quickly made amends with birdies at the 13th, 14th, 16th and 18th holes.

Green finished in style with another four birdies on the front nine at the 4th, 7th, 8th and 9th holes.

He admitted to feeling some nerves given his status and the fact he is the official host for the tournament.

"I started off a little bit scrappy I was nervous. I think there was probably a little bit more expectation of me to play well this week," Green said.

"I played a really good front nine . . . I finished with three birdies in a row.

"It was probably about as benign as we are going to get up here."

Nitties survived a triple bogey on the par-three 8th hole when he put two in the water to card a six-under-par 65.

The 27-year-old, who returned home recently from his rookie season on the US tour, shared second place with Victorian Heath Reed and New Zealander Doug Holloway.

"I couldn't let Greeny get away with too much," Nitties laughed.

"It looked like I might have when I made triple, but I fought back well and had five under on the back nine which helped."

Nitties battled the afternoon heat and wind, and it looked like getting the better of him when he put his tee shot into the water at the 8th.

He went to the drop zone and pitched onto the green, but it spun back ferociously and went off the front of the green into the water again.

Nitties walked off with a six.

"Luckily I was still under par after that and I made a good par on the 9th that got me going," Nitties said.