Mollymook’s Kelsey Bennett shot an impressive 2-under par round of 70 at Coolangatta and Tweed Heads Golf Club this morning, and will take a one-shot lead into tomorrow’s second and final round.

Bennett, the pre-event favourite, started solidly to be even par through her first seven holes, before putting her foot down with birdies at the 8th and 9th holes to make the turn in two under par 34.
The difficult back nine at Coolangatta and Tweed Heads West course had brought many scores undone earlier in the day, but the classy 21-year-old finished her round with nine straight pars to sign for her round of 70.

Bennett though will need to keep looking over her shoulder for the chasing pack, with Sydney-based Korean Nayeon Eum and Victorian Jessica Pickwick both shooting one-under par rounds of 71.
Two shots back are Japan's Yuna Takagi, Sydneysider Paige Stubbs and West Australian amateur Kathryn Norris after all shooting opening rounds of even par 72.

Round two of the 2023 WPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament will commence at 8:00 am AEDT on the West Course at Coolangatta and Tweed Heads Golf Club, where twenty-seven players from six different countries will be competing for exemptions to WPGA events in 2023.
The final group of Bennett, Pickwick and Eum will tee off at 9:28am AEDT.
Entry is free and spectators are welcome.

About the 2023 WPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament

Players will earn exemptions for WPGA Tour events based on their performance at the 2023 WPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament.

Players who finish in positions 1- 8 will earn an exemption in category 4a (priority list numbers 15-22)

Players who finish in positions 9-12 will earn an exemption in Category 5a (priority list numbers 32, 34, 36 & 38)

Players who finish in positions 14-23 will earn an exemption in Category 6a (priority list numbers 45, 47, 49, 50, 52, 54, 55, 56, 58 & 59)

Players who finish in positions 24-27 will earn an exemption in Category 7a (priority list 66, 67, 69, & 70)

Round 2 Tee Times