Nisbet shot seven-under 65 to hold a one-shot lead over Schneider.

Schneider, from Stuttgart, won the Australian Amateur last week by beating Nisbet on the 37th hole of the match-play final.

The Belmont greens recovered well after Wednesday’s showers and the usually blustery conditions did not prevail.

Nisbet took full advantage of the perfect scoring conditions by firing five birdies on the front nine, before sinking another three and a bogey on the way back in.

Schneider’s round featured an eagle on the par-three fourth, six birdies and two bogeys. Toronto’s Callan O’Reilly is equal third with Adelaide’s Brad Moules, New Zealander Matthew Perry and Kooringal’s Todd Sinnott at five-under 67 after producing his best golf in a year.

‘‘There was definitely a score out there but you still had to play well,’’ O’Reilly said.

‘‘It’s the best I’ve played for my whole golf game for probably 12 months and it showed.’’

Putting was the feature of O’Reilly’s round, which was highlighted by birdies on the par-five ninth, 10th and 16th holes.

‘‘I hit the ball really well through my first 11 holes and was four under, which is what you want to be,’’ he said.

O’Reilly is the leading Hunter hopeful but Belmont’s Chris Smith showed the most spectacular form yesterday.

Smith, 25, the Newcastle district champion, carded four-under 68 in a roller-coaster round.

He was five under on the first nine after birdies on the second, third, fourth, sixth and ninth holes.

His game fell apart with bogeys on 10, 12, 13 and 15 before a dramatic comeback on the par-five 16th.

Smith reached the green in two with a driver and seven iron then sunk a four-metre putt. A birdie on the 17th and par on the 18th followed.

Pre-tournament favourite and Charlestown member Jake Higginbottom is five shots off the lead with 70 in 34th place.