Thailand’s Cholcheva Wongras continued her love affair with Australia, and its unique sand greens, today, storming to the lead of the World Sand Greens Championship at Binalong in regional New South Wales.

Wongras, who only turned 18 last week, peeled off seven birdies and an eagle in a course-record 7-under-par 63 at Binalong Golf Club in the second year of the Golf NSW event that forms part of the WPGA Tour of Australasia schedule.

She leads by two from Korean Min A Yoon, but is already five clear of Aussie trio Amelia Mehmet-Grohn, Abbie Teasdale and Maddison Hinson Tolchard after day one of the 54-hole event.

The tournament received a setback before a ball was struck when defending champion Lydia Hall was forced to retire having fallen ill overnight, but it was brought to life by the play of Wongras and Yoon, who each enjoyed withering runs on a perfect day for scoring.

Remarkably, Wongras was 1-over through seven holes and “not really feeling it” on the sand greens that she all but conquered last year when she was runner-up in this event at Walcha.

“Then I hit a good drive on eight, it landed just before the green, hopped up and then I made the eagle putt, (which was a) boost to my confidence on the greens,” Wongras said.

“My caddie (and coach Chaow) was really good at raking for my putts. He told me how much sand was on the green and I can’t really feel it, so that helps a lot.

“I don’t know why he’s so good at it, I still struggle, but he helps me a lot.”

That help resulted in an extraordinary charge of six birdies in the following eight holes as she slashed a stunning six shots off the existing Binalong women’s course record of Helen Spencer, even matching Andrew Kelly’s score set at the men’s World Sand Greens Championship at the same venue last year.

Wongras said her positive memories of Walcha – where she lost in a playoff to Hall – helped with her mindset today.

“That was a lot of fun, it’s nice to have those memories,” she said.

“Sand greens are different – a lot different to the golf we’ve been playing, so I go in with low expectations, don’t hope for too much and if you get a good bounce, great.

“But I know that with a bad bounce, you just have to accept what happens.”

Yoon, 22, already has tasted success in Australia with victory at Webex Players Series Victoria two years ago against the men of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.

And she was white hot again today, particularly from the 16th, having started her round on the 10th hole.

Yoon chipped to almost gimme range on the pink 16th green, then found herself not much further away for eagle on the 17th after rifling a fairway wood from just shy of 200 metres.

She backed that run up with birdies on the 18th and first to complete 30 minutes in 5-under across four holes and a streak of which any professional in the world would be proud.

“I like the sand greens, it’s my first time – so fun,” Yoon said.

“My irons and utility were so good for a few. That was even better.”

Mehmet-Grohn, of Coffs Harbour, looked as if she’d go low when she smashed a 6-iron to eagle range on the 17th, her eighth hole, then drilled another great approach on 18 to turn at 4-under.

But she lost momentum on the front nine to settle with the West Australian pair at 2-under.

Only eight players are at par or better after the first round, with 25 players having battled to 5-over or worse, highlighting just how impressive the leaders were.

- Words by Mark Hayes, Golf NSW