Local hope Kirsten Rudgeley chipped away at the holiday rust and navigated her way through the ‘Fremantle Doctor’ to sit four strokes off the lead at Webex Players Series Perth hosted by Minjee and Min Woo Lee.

Enjoying the comforts of home during tournament week for the first time since turning professional, Rudgeley was 4-under through seven holes and content with 67, level with LPGA Tour-bound Cassie Porter in a tie for fourth with Brett Rumford, Jak Carter and James Marchesani.

Queensland’s Jake McLeod leads by three from Kiwi Kerry Mountcastle (66) and last-start winner Ben Henkel (66), matching the course record of 9-under 63 set by Hayden Hopewell and Josh Armstrong at the WA Open three years ago.

Launching her 2025 campaign in comfortable surroundings playing with fellow West Australians Jason Scrivener (68) and Haydn Barron (69) in the afternoon wave, Rudgeley picked up from a 2024 season in which she finished 12th on the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit.

“I feel like my game’s a little bit scrappy if I’m going to be honest with you,” said Rudgeley.

“There’s a few things I need to work on, but I guess that’s time off over the period of holidays.

“I’m happy where I’m going. It’d be nice to have no wind tomorrow morning. It was definitely a bit windy out there this afternoon but you’re always going to get that here I guess.”

Given a major equipment change only a week ago, Porter was pleasantly surprised to keep a clean card in the first round of the year.

On the back of a year in which she finished 10th on the Epson Tour Points List to earn a 2025 LPGA Tour card, Porter began the new year mentally fresh and with a set of Ping i230 irons that have been in the bag less than a week.

It proved to be no hindrance, however, going bogey free with birdies at 11, 13, 15, six and seven to start her year in style.

“This time last week I had no idea how far they were going, so it’s a bit wild,” said Porter.

“I was struggling with just a few club mysteries really so Ping sent me a new set with my specs and said, 'Try these.'

“I put them in play straight away and saw some really good improvement.

“It was really nice, just stress-free, knowing how far the clubs are going to go and no mysteries.

“That's a good way to start with them.”

In her first visit to Perth, Robyn Choi is one shot behind Porter and tied for ninth after a round of 4-under 68, level with another West Australian in Jess Whitting.

Somewhat scratchy in Wednesday’s pro-am, Choi had three birdies in her first five holes and an eagle at the par-5 sixth to finish the day inside the top 10.

“Honestly, I had no expectations,” said the Gold Coaster who will divide her time between the LPGA Tour and Epson Tour in 2025.

“I played the pro-am yesterday and I struggled. I felt so bad.

“The fairways are pretty tight here and the lines I could take are over these trees so I really have to commit to it.

“But it's a good starting point for the season.”

Round 2 tees off at 7am AWST on Friday morning with the final two rounds broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo.

Photo: Cassandra Edwards