David Klein fires 63 to lead Carrus Tauranga Open

Te Puke teenager Harry Hillier shot 66 including a triple bogey on 16 in round one of the Carrus Tauranga Open yesterday. Photo / NZ Golf

Te Anau professional David Klein has made a late surge to lead the Carrus Tauranga Open after posting a clinical round of seven-under par 63 to hold a one-stroke lead at the Tauranga Golf Club.

His afternoon round was squeaky clean with seven birdies and no bogeys to hold a narrow margin over Tauranga locals Mark Brown, Karl Knedler and Auckland's Dongwoo Kang in the final event of the Jennian Homes Charles Tour season.

"Yeah it's a nice feeling, I played smart, solid golf today and it's pleasing to do it on opening day," said Klein.

"I was however a little disappointed I couldn't capitalise on the par fives which is normally my strength."

Three-time winner and defending champion Brown showed why he has been so successful here in the past with an amazing finishing nine, shooting just 29 with four birdies and an eagle to be tied second.

"Yeah it was good after getting off to a slow start and once I got to the first I knew there were some birdie and eagle chances to come," said Brown.

"It will be pretty low scoring and almost a putting competition out there, but I have won the last three times I have played here, so the track record is good. It's nice to be back and playing in front of family and friends."

Knedler who is in slightly unfamiliar territory, is excited about the week ahead as he looks to make the most of playing in his own backyard.

"It feels great to do this at home, the old man is on the bag who offers a good distraction in between shots and he has been there from the start, so I can't wait to get back into it," said Knedler.

There is a swarm of good names not far behind, but two players who will struggle to sleep this evening are Te Puke teenager Harry Hillier and Daniel Pearce.

Both players made it to seven-under and with holes up their sleeve before both making disastrous triple bogeys on the 16th and 17th respectively to come home in an ambulance.

Te Puke pro Jared Pender (-5) and Tauranga's Josh Geary (-4) are right in the mix. Further down the leaderboard, Gareth Paddison, who has won the last two consecutive events on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour has left the door slightly ajar in the race for the Jennian Homes Trophy after shooting a controlled round of three-under.

This puts Brown in a nice position to apply pressure on the in-form Paddison. For Brown to steal the trophy at the final event, he will firstly require a victory on Sunday afternoon and Paddison to finish outside the top three.

It's a close race in the women's field with three youth versus experience with Rose Zheng, Carmin Lim and Chantelle Cassidy in a share for the lead at one-under.

Omanu's Alanna Campbell shot a disappointing three-over 75.