Day One LIVE: MacLaren Sits Alone On Top

Meghan MacLaren sits atop the Australian Women’s Classic leaderboard midway through the first round, but she doesn’t own the day’s biggest roar.

England’s MacLaren was fulfilling her post-round media obligations following her fine five-under 67 when young Australian Stephanie Bunque holed out for eagle on the 18^th in full view of the expansive Bonville clubhouse.

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Bunque had been lucky to avoid a watery grave short of the closing par-5 with her long approach, but her sand wedge from the edge of the penalty area took one hop and dived into the hole, sparking a huge roar.

It was the Victorian’s second eagle in a stunning final five holes as she scythed through the field to four under, having been one over standing on the 14^th tee.

It was in stark contrast to MacLaren’s round which began off the ninth tee and built steadily with three well-crafted par-5 birdies on the way out, then two lovely tee shots to set up par-3 birdies on the way home.

Bunque’s charge brought her level with Spanish veteran Carmen Alonso, who is playing as well as ever in her 18^th season on the Ladies European Tour.

It left them a shot clear of a gregarious pair in Northern Ireland’s Olivia Mehaffey and England’s Alice Hewson who each showed flashes of brilliance but mixed in their share of bogeys in opening 69s.

Classy finish by @meg_maclaren and she’s the new outright leader of #AusWomensClassic at -5! @LETgolf @GolfNSW pic.twitter.com/TxgZ2S5om7

— Mark Hayes (@Hayesy24) April 21, 2022

Young Queenslander Justice Bosio is the early leading amateur at two under, among a host of internationals including the field’s highest-ranked player, Sweden’s Maja Stark.

Crowd favourite and LPGA Tour player Sarah Kemp looked ominous early when she birdied the tough 13^th, then sat on the lip for eagle on the 14^th.

But Kemp couldn’t buy a putt afterwards and finished at one under.

10.30am: MacLaren, Mehaffey Share Early Lead

Coffs Harbour specialist Meghan MacLaren has jumped to an early share of the Australian Women’s Classic lead at Bonville Resort.

MacLaren, a past winner of the Women’s NSW Open at nearby Coffs Harbour Golf Club, is three under through 12 holes having begun her round on the ninth this morning.

She shares top spot on the leaderboard with Northern Ireland’s Olivia Mehaffey.

Spain’s Carmen Alonso and promising Sydney amateur Brie Mapanao are next at two under.

All four have taken advantage of sunny and benign conditions at Bonville, with MacLaren having missed a couple of chances to spread the field even further.

The Englishwoman, fresh from a win in Wednesday’s pro-am, birdied all three par-5s on the back nine and left another couple of putts on the lip, to boot.

Mehaffey, runner-up in the pro-am and on her professional Australian debut, started with a bogey on the ninth, but caught fire around the clubhouse with birdies on the 18^th, 1^st, 2^nd and 4^th holes to surge through the field.

I might have already seen the shot of the week at #AusWomensClassic. @kempgolf deadset drills a 5-wood 177m up the 13th hill to here. Picks up 1.5 shots on field, I reckon. Goes -1 at #AusWomensClassic and looking ominous. @lpga @GolfNSW

PS: terrible day here. 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/BEi5iH57fy

— Mark Hayes (@Hayesy24) April 20, 2022

Crowd favourite and LPGA Tour player Sarah Kemp looked ominous early when she birdied the tough 13^th, then sat on the lip for eagle on the 14^th.

But Kemp she gave shots back on the 16^th and 1^st to fall back to square.

Newly minted Queensland professional Cassie Porter was also prominent early, but having elected to lay up for safety on the par-5 18^th, she left her next two chips short en route to a double-bogey seven to turn at one under.

7.45am: Cool Cassie out to early lead

It’s Day ONE LIVE here at Bonville Golf Resort in the 2022 Australian Women’s Classic , and the the early birds are already on the move.

Queensland young gun Cassie porter is on a roll straight out of the starting gates, with birdies on her opening two holes.

At magnificent @BonvilleGolf for the start of #AusWomensClassic and looking forward to plenty of this from @krudgele1. Follow the scores at https://t.co/Vvcnun1woa @GolfNSW pic.twitter.com/N8BeFiumov

— Mark Hayes (@Hayesy24) April 20, 2022

It is early days, though and there are an other nine players already win red figures at one-under, including Concord Amateur Belinda Ji, and back to back NSW Open Champion, England’s Meghan MacLaren.

Conditions here are perfect for golf, with no wind and just a hint of crispness in the air.

The boffins as the weather Bureau have is heading for a maximum of 23 degrees with just a chance of a few showers later in the day.

Stay tuned here for updates and all the new and views as we bring you all the best action from here at Bonville