Yarrawonga PGA Trainee Frazer Droop has got off to a hot start in his debut at the National Futures Championship.

Played at Ballarat Golf Club, Droop fired 5-under 67 to hold a one shot lead following the first round.

Enjoying the condition of the course, Droop’s round  was highlighted by five consecutive threes on his scorecard.

“It was good to get out early this morning and make the most of the good conditions. Ballarat is usually a pretty windy place but it was nice to us this morning,” said Droop.

“From the 5^th hole onwards I made five 3’s in a row. I started off making birdie on the 5^th which is a long par-4, a tight driving hole and then followed it up with a par on a really long par-3. To eagle the next it got the round rolling pretty nicely.”

“The greens are a bit quicker which is nice. Yesterday in the pro-am, I kept leaving them short.”

Droop has been in excellent form on course this year and thanks to seven tournament wins, including the Coca-Cola Rich River Trainee Classic, he currently leads the Titleist – FootJoy Performance Ranking for PGA Trainees.

Heading into this week’s National Futures Championship, Droop was tagged as a player to watch.

“I just love the competition,” added Droop.

“I seem to like the pressure. If people expect me to do well, then it is good fun to come out here and shoot a good number.

“I am loving it (PGA Traineeship) and I am loving playing golf and that is when I play my best.”

Currently in the first year of his PGA Traineeship, Droop is aiming to become a third generation PGA Professional, following in the footsteps of his father, Evan Droop, and grandfather, Phillip Droop.

“I am at Yarrawonga Golf Club, up on the boarder of Victoria and New South Wales, in the bush. I am doing my Traineeship under my dad who is the Head Pro and it’s all going pretty well at the moment.

“My Dad who has the business at home took it over from my Pa, so we have been up there for a while. It’s nice to a third generation PGA Pro.

“There is still a lot of golf to be played but I think Dad will be pretty happy with this round.”

Sitting a shot behind Droop and tied second on the leaderboard are West Australian Ethan Andrews and New South Welshman Robert Hogan.

On 3-under the card Daniel Bringolf (NSW) is outright fourth after the first round while a group of five PGA Trainees round out the top-5 on 2-under the card.

The second round of the National Futures Championship tees off at 7.30am with Droop on course at Ballarat Golf Club at 8.10am.