Blustery conditions greeted players this morning for North Shore Realty Mt Coolum Pro-Am.

Mt Coolum proved a difficult test for the morning field. The combination of small greens, narrow fairways and windy conditions resulting in the best score a one over par 73, from Bankstown based Professional Chris Akers.

As the afternoon field moved out onto the course conditions had eased considerably which made for better scoring from the afternoon players.

Steven Jeffress has fired a solid round of 6-under par 66 to win by a shot from Matthew Millar and Brett Rankin who both shot 5-under par 67.

“It’s so important to keep the ball in play off the tee on this course to have a chance at shooting a low score," said Jeffress.

“That was my focus today to drive the ball well off the tee and give myself the best opportunity to hit the green with my approach shots.

“My wedge play was excellent today and I putted nicely which really helped the score."

Jeffress had seven birdies on his scorecard today. Birdies at the 1^st, 2^nd, 12^th, 13^th 16^th and 17^th holes the only blemish was a bogey on the 9^th hole where he missed the fairway and had to chip out.

Matthew Millar and Brett Rankin both had bogey free rounds for the day but finished one shot shy of Jeffress.

“It’s a demanding course, you have to be pin point accurate with your approach shots to give yourself the chances to make birdies," said Rankin.

The next stop on the Ladbrokes PGA Pro-Am Series schedule is the Maroochy River Golf Club Thursday 10^th and Friday 11^th August.