CLICK HERE FOR SCORE UPDATES Australia took the advantage after crucial wins in close matches to stake a 16-8 lead after the first day of the Trans Tasman Cup at Royal Wellington Golf Club today. Victorian Daniel Beckmann, who won both his foursomes and singles matches on the opening day, said he was enjoying his first Trans-Tasman Cup experience. I ve been to New Zealand before and played at the Shirley Open three years ago but it s my first time in the Trans Tasman Cup,” Beckmann said. We have won the important tight matches. This morning we got two good solid 1-ups in the senior men which were crucial. They really set us up well for the afternoon.” Beckmann said the Australians would change little in their pursuit of a fourth straight Trans-Tasman Cup title. Tomorrow we have to go out there with the same mindset. You can t forget about the score tomorrow. You still have to know where you are placed and know where you are,” Beckmann said. We want to approach things the same as today. Go about our plan the same, hydrate properly, eat properly and do all the little things, the one percenters that add up.” The track is a bit different than back home with different grass but we are loving it. It will take a huge effort on the final day tomorrow if New Zealand are to secure their first Trans Tasman Trophy title, decided with teams representing senior and junior men and women in matchplay competition. It proved an excellent introduction for 15-year-old Srixon Australian Women&aposs Stroke Play champion Cecilia Cho who won her morning foursomes with Liv Cheng in the junior girls division and was three-under par in winning her singles 4 and 3 over Emma Ash. Cheng also enjoyed a winning start. The Manukau Golf Club player, like Cho and Lydia Ko making her debut after gaining her citizenship recently, hung on well to win her singles on the final green. Ko finished two-under but lost 1-down against Ashley Ona. Australia scored three wins in the senior girls, including a narrow 1up effort by Ebony Heard over Nelson s Lisa Wright after the young kiwi fought back from 3-down to square the match after 15. Northland s Caroline Bon made a remarkable up-and-down from a difficult position on the 17th to beat Australian Amateur Champion Stacey Keating 1-up, finishing one-under. Australia had two wins to one in the junior boys with one match halved, with the win going to South Canterbury s Mark O Malley while Christchurch teenager Keelan Kilpatrick made a superb birdie on the last hole to halve his match. The visitors had two wins in the senior men and the other two matches halved. Ryan Fox was 4-up with eight to play before Australian Jason Scrivener made a run, while Ben Campbell fired a four-under 68, including birdies with a chip in on his 15th hole and again at the last to claim a half. Australia has won the three previous Trans Tasman Trophy contests in this new competition that merges the previous four events for the Sloan Morpeth Trophy (senior men), Tasman Cup (senior women), Clare Higson Trophy (junior men) and Junior Tasman Trophy (junior women). Results, Trans Tasman Trophy, Day 1: Foursomes (NZ name first): Junior girls: Lydia Ko/Erin Hawe lost to Ashley Ona/Christine Mew 5 and 4, Cecilia Cho/Liv Cheng bt Emma Ash/Bree Elliott 4 and 2 Junior boys: Tim Leonard and Vaughan McCall bt Cam Smith/Ryan Peake 4 and 3, Mark O Malley/Keelan Kilpatrick lost to Jake Higginbottom/Aaron Wilkins 2 and 1. Senior women: Caroline Bon/Emily Perry lost to Stacey Keating/Jessica Speechley 3 and 2, Zoe Brake/Lisa Wright lost to Ebony Heard/Justin Lee 6 and 5. Senior men: Ryan Fox/Nick Gillespie lost to Kieran Pratt/Dan Beckmann 1 down, Ben Campbell/Andy Stewart lost to Jordan Sherratt/Jason Scrivener 1 down. Singles, junior girls: Cheng bt Mew 1up, Hawe and Elliott all square, Ko lost to Ona 1 down, Cho bt Ash 4 and 3. Junior boys: Leonard lost to Higginbottom 4 and 3, Kilpatrick and Wilkins all square, McCall lost to Smith 5 and 4, O Malley bt Peake 4 and 3. Senior women: Wright lost to Heard 1 down, Perry lost to Lee 3 and 2, Bon bt Keating 1up, Brake lost to Speechley 4 and 2. Senior men: Gillespie lost to Beckmann 4 and 2, Fox and Scrivener all square, Stewart lost to Pratt 5 and 3, Campbell and Sherratt all square. Score: Australia 16 New Zealand 8.