Australian WPGA Championship - Leaderboard
-7 K Macdonald (Sco); -6 H Green (Aus), C Heath (Eng); -5 M Maclaren (Eng), L Vachova (Cze), V Knecht (Swi), K Yoko (Idn).
Selected: -3 A Wilson (NI); -2 D Harry (Wal), L Thompson (Wal), C McGinty (Eng), A Hewson (Eng), A Fuller (Eng).
Macdonald Breaks Course Record to Lead
Scotland's Kelsey Macdonald delivered an impressive seven-under-par 64, breaking the course record at Sanctuary Cove to take the lead after the first round of the Australian WPGA Championship, a Ladies European Tour event held in Queensland.
The 35-year-old golfer began with a bogey on the first hole but recovered strongly, recording six birdies and an eagle on the final hole to finish one stroke ahead of the field.
Home favourite Hannah Green, fresh from her victory at the Australian Open last week, and English rookie Charlotte Heath, who also bogeyed the opening hole, are tied for second place.
Four players share fourth place at five under par, including England's Meghan MacLaren, who was runner-up at the Australian Women's Classic at Magenta Shores two weeks prior.
Macdonald's Performance and Experience
Macdonald, hailing from Inverness, completed the front nine in 35 strokes but closed with a birdie-eagle finish, completing the back nine in just 29 strokes.
"Well, the first hole wasn't that great! So I had nothing to lose from then on," said Macdonald, who has been competing in Australia for three months after securing a WPGA Tour of Australasia card.
"I just gave myself opportunities, and it was nice to finish the way I did. I've been in Australia since 2 January, taking advantage of the great weather.
When I left Scotland it was minus seven degrees, so I can't complain. A great opportunity to keep playing."
Charlotte Heath's Comfortable Start
Charlotte Heath, a graduate of the LET Access Series and a two-time Curtis Cup player for Great Britain & Ireland, recorded seven birdies and only one bogey during her round.
"It's quite Florida-esque here and I'm based in Florida now, so it felt quite comfortable to me with the Bermuda grass and [hitting] into the grain," said the 24-year-old.
