Defending champion Cooper Eccleston from the Victoria Park Golf Complex and Charles Wright from Burleigh Golf Club share the top of the leaderboard following a tough opening round at the 2019 Altitude Wealth Solutions QLD PGA Trainee Championship at the Windaroo Lakes Golf Club with opening rounds of even par 72.

Eccleston opened his round in sizzling fashion with birdies on the opening three holes followed by back-to-back bogeys on the 5^th and 6^th. Recovering with a birdie on the 7^th hole, Eccleston made the turn in 2-under par with some astonishing par saves.

As the wind picked up around the Windaroo Lakes layout, the back-9 played tough especially the 453m par-4 16^th on which he made a double bogey, eventually completing his round in even par.

“I played really well today in patches,” said Eccleston.

“This being said the poor shots I hit I was able to escape with some good recovery shots with the exception of the tough 16^th hole. There is no recovery on that hole. It is brutal.”

Wright, who started on the 10^th hole, also began in great fashion opening with two birdies on his 1^st and 3^rd hole to also make the turn in 2-under.

Bogeys on the 1^st, 2^nd and 5^th holes pushed Wright to 1-over par but a late birdie on the final 9^th hole confirmed his spot at the top alongside Eccleston.

“I started great today,” said Wright. “Being 2-under at the turn on which is the tougher of the nines was really pleasing.”

“A few bad swings early on my back-9 and a strong finish made for a reasonable score so I am happy to be where I am after round 1.”

It is an all Queensland affair at the top with Brookwater Golf & Country Club Trainee Chris Cooks and Headland Golf Club’s MacKenzie Wright both posting rounds of 2-over 74 to sit two shots behind the leaders.

It gets busy from there with 10 players all a further shot back on 3-over 75 which includes no less than seven interstate Trainees.

With 14 players within three shots and the unfortunate withdrawal of tournament favourite Frazer Droop after the Pro-Am due to injury, round 2 is shaping up to be a tight to tussle to hold bragging rights at the halfway point.

The Windaroo Lakes Golf Club will no doubt again provide a challenging test for the Trainees competing for the $35,000 in prize money and exemption into the 2020 Coca Cola QLD PGA Championship.

For all the scores and information on the 2019 Altitude Wealth Solutions QLD Trainee Championship please click here.