Manawatu golfer Joshua Munn broke the course record with an outstanding nine under par 63 in ideal conditions at the Muriwai Open today.

Munn, who had only 21 putts throughout his first ever 18 holes at Muriwai, had his best tournament round of his young career to lead the tournament by three shots from Northland pro Alex Tait.

"Everything I did today was awesome," said 20-year-old Munn, who recently upset world No 9 amateur Ben Campbell in the second round of the New Zealand Amateur.

"Every putt I looked at, I holed - it was like I couldn't miss. When I got to seven under par I thought 'what do I do now'?"

Munn was composed to the last, making a fine birdie on his final hole - the ninth - to set the clubhouse lead and record at nine under.

Robert Noffke (Titirangi) previously held the course record with a 66, which was matched in the final round of the Muriwai Open last year by Richard Lee.

In the women's field, world No 1 amateur Lydia Ko was disappointed by her two over par 74 as she trailed leader Susan Farron by three shots. A group of three players - Kristin Farrell, Caroline Bon and Natalie Storck - share second place on one over.

Scores:
63 Joshua Munn (Manawatu)
66 Alex Tait (P)
67 Dominic Barson (P), Simon Brownlee (Muriwai)
68 Marcus Wheelhouse (P), Grant Moorhead (P), Richard Lee (P), Sam An (Titirangi), David Klein (P), Peter Spearman Burn (P), Craig Palmer (P)
69 Bradley Kendall (Mt Maunganui), Jared Pender (P), Hamish Robertson (P), Mathew Perry (Hamilton), Keelan Kilpatrick (Russley), Jason McIntosh (P)
70 Kevin Budden (Waitemata), Nick Gillespie (P), Clarke Osbourne (P), Jonathon Ratcliffe (Akarana), Peter Fowler (P), Jon Bevitt (P), Troy Ropiha (P)
71 Brenden Stuart (P), Steven Han (P), Robert Harford (Clarks Beach), Ho Jun Sung (Hamilton), Scott McAlpine (North Shore), Jim Cusdin (P), Thomas Spearman-Burn (Miramar), Keiran Muir (P), Martin Pettigrew (P), Pieter Zwart (P), Leighton James (P)
72 Tom Cardno (Waitemata), Victor Janin (Rotorua), Fraser Wilkin (Royal Auckland), Benson Chen (North Shore), Andrew Green (P), Pat Harold (P)

Women:
71 Susan Farron (P)
73 Kristin Farrell (Titirangi), Caroline Bon (P), Natalie Storck (Muriwai)
74 Caryn Khoo (Pakuranga), Lydia Ko (North Shore)
75 Phillis Meti (P)
76 Jenna Hunter (P), Pam Sowden (P), Tyla Kingi (Opotiki)
77 Hanna Seifert (Lochiel)
78 Alana Wylie (The Grange)
80 Faye-Amy Nickson (Peninsula), Celyn Khoo (Pakuranga), Emily Perry (Lochiel), Rica Pui-Man Tse (North Shore)
81 Stacey Tate (P)
82 Julitta Lam (Muriwai)
84 Rebekah Brownlee (Muriwai)

- NZPA