Gold medal effort … Laura Coles of Australia competes in the Women’s Skeet qualifying at Barry Buddon Shooting Centre. Photo: Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images

Laura Coles has won gold in the women’s skeet to claim Australia’s first shooting medal of the Commonwealth Games.

The 27-year-old exercise physiologist shot 14 out of 16 targets in the gold medal shoot-off against Wales’ Elena Allen, who missed three shots to finish with silver on Friday.

On the podium … from left, Elena Allen of Wales, Laura Coles of Australia and Andri Eleftheriou of Cyprus receive their medals after winning the Women’s Skeet final at Barry Buddon Shooting Centre. Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Andri Eleftheriou from Cyprus won the bronze medal shoot-off. Australia’s Lauryn Mark made it to the semi-final, finishing sixth.