Players took advantage of excellent scoring conditions at Mid Ocean Club for first round of the Nike Golf Team Championship of Canada.

Saskatchewan’s Dean Brown and Pat Marcia of Royal Regina Golf Club, and Eric Laporte and Philippe Mongeau of Quebec lead the 47-team pack after fourball rounds of nine-under-par 62.

“Today was pretty much about as perfect for scoring as you’re ever going to find,” Brown said. “There was also a lot of mojo in our group and that’s never a bad thing.”

Both leading teams played together yesterday and will tee off again today in the foursomes format.

The Quebec duo of Marc-Etienne Bussieres, who captured this year’s PGA Championship of Canada, and Dave Levesque, as well Ian Doig and his Ed Maunder of Ontario are just two shots back after opening rounds of 7-under.

Five teams, including last year’s winners Billy Walsh and Danny King, are tied fifth at 6-under.

In total, 20 teams are within just five shots of the lead, among them local professionals Chris Grantier, playing his home course, and Scott Roy, representing the now defunct Riddell’s Bay.

The pair are tied for sixteenth on four under, with Roy’s eagle on the par-5 2nd getting the round off to a good start. Birdies at four and seven saw them reach the turn at four under, with a bogey at 12 cancelled out by a final birdie at 15.