Western Australian Breanna Gill and Queenslander Steven Jeffress hold the lead after round one of the Qantas Golf Club Gold Coast Challenge at Links Hope Island after shooting rounds of 68 and 66 respectively.

Both players teed off in the calm morning conditions, the afternoon players certainly had the worst of the conditions with a stiff south-easterly breeze gusting up to 40km/ph at times.

In the PGA Pro-am Series event, Gold Coast resident Jeffress will take a one stroke lead into the second round after shooting a flawless round of 6-under 66.

The former Fiji International Champion was off to a fast start in the morning with three birdies in his first four holes, before adding further birdies at the 18th, 4th and 7th holes.

“I thought conditions might get a little more difficult for the afternoon players,” said Jeffress.

“I knew if I could make a few birdies early I would be in the mix at the end of the day, I’m happy to take a one shot lead into the final round.”

Tied for second place on 5-under 67 are Blake Proverbs, Brett Rankin and Deyen Lawson.

In the ALPG field, Gill, who finished runner-up in the Brisbane Invitational at McLeod Golf Club last Friday after losing in a four-way playoff to England’s Felicity Johnson, started her round the short par-4 12th hole, making an inconspicuous start to her round with six straight pars.

Gill’s 7th hole of the day was the par-5 18th hole which she eagled, and followed that with birdies at the two par-5’s on the front-9, the 2nd and 8th holes to move her to 4-under par where she finished the day.