Scottish golfer Kelsey MacDonald fires course-record 64 to lead in Australia

Former Scottish Women’s champion Kelsey MacDonald produced one of the best rounds of her career to set the pace in the Australian WPGA Championship.

The Nairn woman carded a course-record seven-under-par 64 at Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club.

The effort, which was capped by a 40-foot eagle putt at the last, earned MacDonald a one-shot lead over newly-crowned Australian Open champion Hannah Green and England’s Charlotte Heath.

Kelsey MacDonald shows off her course-record card at Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club | LET

“Well, the first hole wasn’t that great!” said MacDonald of starting her round with a bogey before quickly turning it into a day to remember. “So I had nothing to lose from then on going forward.

“I just positioned [well] off the tree, hit my irons really well, gave myself opportunities, and then it was just nice to finish the way I did – three, three, three, back-nine 29. I was delighted.”

MacDonald has been playing Down Under over the past few months after securing her WPGA Tour of Australasia card in December.

“Before Christmas, I came over [to Australia] and did the qualifying school at Coolangatta and then was successful with Category 3 status,” she said.

“I flew out here on 2 January. So I’ve been here since [then]. I’ve taken advantage of great weather and good golf courses – a bit of travel. When I left Scotland it was minus seven degrees, so I can’t complain! Just a great opportunity to keep playing for me.”

‘I’ve got to stick to the process’

The 35-year-old, who landed her Scottish Women’s title triumph at Craigielaw in 2010, is now looking forward to seeing if she can kick on in the LET co-sanctioned event.

“Yeah, I’m pretty excited [for the next few days],” she admitted. “But I generally can’t win it on the first day, so I’ve just got to stick to the process and keep doing what I’m doing and hopefully hole some putts and we’ll see how tomorrow goes.”