Gill and Jeffress take halfway lead at Hope Island
Western Australian Breanna Gill and Queenslander Steven Jeffress hold the lead after round one of the Qantas Golf Club Gold Coast Challenge, after shooting rounds of 68 and 66 respectively. Both players teed off in the more benign morning conditions, the afternoon players certainly had the worst of the conditions with a stiff south-easterly breeze gusting up to 40kpm at times.
Gill, who was one of the runners-up in the Brisbane Invitational at McLeod GC last Friday after losing in a four-way playoff to England`s Felicity Johnson, started her round this morning at the short par 4 12th hole, making an inconspicuous start to her round with six straight pars. Gill`s 7th hole of the day was the par 5 18th hole which she eagled, and followed that with birdies at the two par fives on the front nine, the 2nd and 8th holes to move her to 4 under par where she finished the day.
Gill used her length off the tee to take advantage of the par-fives today, playing them in 4 under par and the rest of her round was faultless without a single bogey on her scorecard.
Gill`s 2018 ALPG campaign so far has been somewhat disappointing, but obviously the 37-year-old found something in her game at McLeod which she has brought with her to the Gold Coast.
In second place in the women`s competition after round one is Canadian Hannah Hellyer after shooting a 3 under par round of 69.
In the PGA Pro-am Series event Gold Coast resident Stephen Jeffress will take a one-stroke lead over 3 players into tomorrow`s second round, Blake Proverbs, Brett Rankin and Deyen Lawson, after shooting a flawless 6 under par round of 66.
The former Fiji International Champion was off to a fast start this morning with three birdies in his first 4 holes, before adding further birdies at the 18th, 4th and 7th holes.
The 42-year-old Jeffress has had a solid start to his 2018 PGA of Australasia campaign finishing T5th at the Oates Vic Open in February, tied 2nd at the QLD PGA Championship and most recently a tie for 29th at the ISPS Handa New Zealand Open.
Play will get underway tomorrow morning at Links Hope Island at 7:00 am, entry is free and spectators are welcome.
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