Townsend's round meant Josh Lane's grip on the outright record was short-lived, after the Sydney golfer also posted a 61 during the morning.

Queenslander Wright's 62, including a run of eagle-birdie-eagle-birdie, almost went unnoticed as Townsend had to wait an hour for an eagle putt to go 10-under on 17th, as players were forced from the course for the second time.

He made birdie and followed up by ripping his drive down 18th, but came up with a downhill lie - ending his quest for 59. If his ball had been a couple of metres closer or further away from the green he would have been in the go-zone

"I had 219 to the front of the green and 230 to the flag and from a flat lie I would have definitely had a go," Townsend said.

"It would have been a three-wood and ... you don't get those chances (to shoot 59) very often."

Townsend and Wright are one stroke in front of first round leader Aaron Pike, on 65, and Peter Wilson, who shot 64.

The draw favoured the afternoon groups. The top five on the leader board enjoyed perfect scoring conditions despite two rain breaks.

Luke Hickmott and Rudi Bezuidenhout also shot 62s in the afternoon, to move into contention at 10 and nine under respectively, while Lane is nine under with amateur Brendan Smith.

But Townsend was the star of the day, playing alongside tour veteran Michael Long, who is eight-under-par.

"It's hard when you play with someone who is playing that well and making it look so easy," Long said.

Townsend made a blazing start to his round, with six consecutive birdies before the first rain delay.

He returned to the course and reached the par 17th in two just as the siren sounded for the second time to call the players off the course, leaving him an hour to think about a 35-foot putt.