Wilson, back home for a few weeks from his base at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Canada, posted a six-over-par round of 78.

The 24-year-old had an unhappy start with five bogies in the first holes. To his credit he played the next 12 holes one-under but will still need a big round today to make the weekend cut.

Wilson came up with three birdies in his round but two double bogies on the final 10 holes really hurt.

He had six on the par-4 9th and closed out with another six on the par-4 18th.

Bathurst's Peter O'Malley finished one-under 71 and looked fairly comfortable in the best morning conditions. He had three birdies and 13 pars but dropped shots on nine and 11.

Grant Scott was one-over-par late in his round.

The early clubhouse leader was 21-year-old Victorian amateur Nathan Holman who carded six-under-par 66.

Winner of the 2011 Riversdale Cup and 2012 Mandurah Cup, Holman accepted a position in this week's field after missing entry cut off for the Australian Amateur, also being contested this week.

Despite the fact the amateur event is being partly played at his home club, Woodlands Golf Club, a confident Holman says he's more than happy to be playing at Forest Resort Creswick.

"I'm happy to be here. This is what I want to be doing in the future," said Holman, who played five professional tournaments last season.

"I'm felling more and more comfortable with every pro event I play. The more the better, so hopefully this form continues."

Holman got out to a fast start through the front nine and by the 10th had carded two eagles.

Finishing with a six-under total, he said he was happy to finish as well as he did in the manageable morning conditions.

"I'd played the first 11 holes in practice, but the last seven I didn't really know what I was doing.

"I was just going off my book. I was hitting the ball well though, so it was good," he said.

"The wind got up towards the end. There were a few times we had to change clubs because of the gusts, but it's also getting pretty hot. It's going to be tough out there for the guys this arvo, so I'm pretty happy to be finished."

While there are three rounds to go, Holman says he's hoping to continue the trend of amateur success on the PGA Tour of Australasia from last year.

"Obviously with Goss and Higginbottom winning last year, we're not that far off. Anything is possible," said Holman, who plans to turn professional at the end of this year.

"I'm pretty happy with the schedule I've got at the moment so I think I'll play that out and hopefully turn Pro at the end of this year."