Defending champion Rumford leads World Super 6

Defending champion Brett Rumford leads the way once again after day one of the World Super 6 in Perth, carding an eight-under-par 64 on Thursday.

Rumford regained his European Tour playing rights with victory in the inaugural staging of this event last year, leading after all three days of stroke play before successfully negotiating day four's matchplay rounds.

And the Perth native continued to make the most of home comforts as he produced a stunning seven birdies on the back nine after reaching the turn at one under.

Only the top 24 players after 54 holes will progress to Sunday's six-hole knockout matches.

"I just think there's some golf courses just suit your eye and others don't," he said.

"It's not always the case but generally you find as a trend that a lot of players go back and play well when they've had a lot of good performances there, and this is one of them.

"I don't know what it is but it definitely seems to be some kind of home course advantage.

"I'm leading, I'm inside the top 24 and that's my only focus this week, finish inside that number. Whether I lead the qualifying again? That would be a nice bonus but it's not my priority this week and I'm playing accordingly."

Lee Westwood and James Nitties are two shots adrift of Rumford, while Kiradech Aphibarnrat is among nine players a further shot behind - the Thai having opened his round with four consecutive birdies.