NETHERLANDS 10 Sept 2015, (AFP) - Ormsby got to the turn in 33, then notched up birdies at the 12th, 13th and 14th before making further gains on his last three holes.
That left him level with clubhouse leader Lawrie at Kennemer Golf and Country Club.
This duo are one shot clear of Richard Bland, on eight-under after mixing six birdies with an eagle.
Englishmen James Morrison, David Horsey and Robert Rock, home favourite Joost Luiten and Argentina's Estanislao Goya were a further shot back.
Ormsby was thrilled with his showing, saying: "It was nice to finish like that. I had a hot putter there at the end, which made things a bit easier.
Lawrie was delighted with his start to the week. He said: "Sixty-one, it sounds good, doesn’t it? I played very nicely and putted very well again.
"My previous best was 63 in the third round of the Dunhill Links when I won."
Leading first round scores of the EPGA Dutch Open in Zandvoort on Thursday (Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 70):
61 - Paul Lawrie, Wade Ormsby (AUS)
62 - Richard Bland
63 - Robert Rock, Joost Luiten (NED), Estanislao Goya (ARG), David Horsey, James Morrison
64 - Soren Kjeldsen (DEN), Mikko Ilonen (FIN), Morten Orum Madsen (DEN)
65 - Scott Hend (AUS), Andy Sullivan, Lasse Jensen (DEN), Stephen Gallacher, Magnus A Carlsson (SWE), Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP)
66 - Lucas Bjerregaard (DEN), Andrew Johnston, Matt Ford, Lee Slattery, Tyrrell Hatton, Daniel Vancsik (ARG), David Lipsky (USA), Eduardo De La Riva (ESP)
67 - Mikael Lundberg (SWE), John Parry, Jason Barnes, Maximilian Kieffer (GER), Robert Dinwiddie, Martin Kaymer (GER), Mikko Korhonen (FIN), Simon Griffiths, Eddie Pepperell, Simon Thornton, Jeev Milkha Singh (IND), Daniel Brooks, Raphael Jacquelin (FRA), Alvaro Quiros (ESP)