West Australia’s Whitney Hillier fired a superb 7 under par round of 66 to take the 1st round lead at the Moss Vale ALPG Ladies Classic. Hillier, one of the early morning starters, began her round with a bogey, but bounced back with 6 birdies and an eagle and was delighted with her start to the tournament.

Hillier paid credit to the Moss Vale GC greenstaff for presenting the course in such great condition adding

“The greens were absolutely pure this morning, if you started the putt where you wanted to, it would go in. They are some of the best greens we play on all year.”

Hillier also paid credit to her boyfriend Ben Brewer, who has acted as her caddy for the past 9 months. Brewer is a scratch player himself and son of English coach Stuart Brewer who has been Hillier’s coach for the past year.

“Ben has helped me so much over the past year, he knows my game so well and is so good at picking up any bad habits I get into. We have been working really hard to improve my consistency and hopefully will start seeing more round like today. “

Hillier is staying this week at the home of Frank Williams, well known local golf identity and former manager of Greg Norman and said that Frank had given her a “serve” about her golf and why she wasn’t playing better.

“Frank really got stuck into me last night so I think that really motivated me to play well today. I really have to thank him though, he is a great friend and supporter and maybe that was just what I needed”

Hillier goes into tomorrows second and final round with a 2 shot cushion from Sydneysiders Sarah Kemp and  Ellen Davies Graham.