Macdonald Breaks Course Record To Lead In Australia

Scotland's Kelsey Macdonald changeable a seven-under-par 64 to break Sanctuary Cove's people grounds and lead nan Australian WPGA Championship aft nan first round.

The 35-year-old bogeyed nan first spread but past made six birdies, and an eagle connected nan last, to lead nan Ladies European Tour arena successful Queensland by 1 stroke.

Home favourite Hannah Green, who won nan Australian Open past week, and English rookie Charlotte Heath - who besides bogeyed nan first - are successful associated second.

Four players stock 4th connected 5 nether including England's Meghan MacLaren, who was runner-up successful nan Australian Women's Classic astatine Magenta Shores 2 weeks ago.

Macdonald, from Inverness, went retired successful 35 but a birdie-eagle decorativeness meant she came location successful conscionable 29 strokes.

"Well, nan first spread wasn't that great! So I had thing to suffer from past on," said Macdonald, who has been playing play successful Australia for 3 months aft earning a WPGA Tour of Australasia card.

"I conscionable gave myself opportunities, and it was bully to decorativeness nan measurement I did. I've been successful Australia since 2 January, taking advantage of nan awesome weather.

"When I near Scotland it was minus 7 degrees truthful it has been a awesome opportunity to support playing."

Heath, an LET Access Series postgraduate who played for Great Britain & Ireland successful 2 Curtis Cups, carded 7 birdies and dropped conscionable 1 shot.

"It's rather Florida-esque present and I'm based successful Florida now, truthful it felt rather comfortable to maine pinch nan Bermuda writer and [hitting] into nan grain," said nan 24-year-old.