Australia has made a strong start against New Zealand in a fierce battle in Canberra on the opening day of the 2009 Trans-Tasman Cup at Royal Canberra Golf Club. In ideal conditions in the nation s capital, Australia produced some outstanding performances to lead the championship by 17 matches to 7. The team of Whitney Hillier (WA), Grace Lennon (VIC), Jacki Marshall (QLD) and Justine Lee (NSW) did not lose a match on the opening day and lead their section of the tie 6-0. The highlights included Hillier and Lee s 4&3 win over Chantelle Cassidy and Courtney Manning and Grace Lennon s 5&4 singles win over Erin Hawe. The New Zealand women’s team were ready for a battle though. They lead their section 4-2 after an impressive clean sweep of the foursomes. The singles was a chance for immediate revenge for Australia as Ashlee Dewhurst (TAS) made short work of Caroline Bon 7& 6. Stacey Keating (VIC) and Bree Arthur (QLD) lost to Emily Perry and Larissa Eruera respectively but Rebecca Flood (NSW) claimed a scalp by beating the in-form Zoe-Beth Brake. The Australian boys team leads their tie 4 to 1 in a relatively even affair. The Australian squad had a win and a squared match in the foursomes before winning all but one of their singles matches with dominant displays from Queensland duo Daniel Nisbet and Cameron Smith. New Zealand s Ben Campbell was too good for Bryden Macpherson (VIC). The Australian men’s team results mirrored those of the boys team. Ryan McCarthy (TAS) and Luke Bleumink (VIC) did well to square their match against highly-talented pair Peter Spearman-Burn and Ryan Fox while Matt Jager (WA) and Brendan Smith (NSW) were too good for Daniel Pearce and Sean Riordan. Smith, Jager and McCarthy all won their singles matches while Bleumink lost to Spearman-Burn 3&2. The second round of the 2009 Trans-Tasman Cup begins tomorrow at Royal Canberra Golf Club.