Golf: Geary wins first Charles Tour title away from home

Josh Geary was in commanding form to win the Akarana Open on the Charles Tour. Photo/Simon Watts

Mount Maunganui's Josh Geary held on from a fast finishing Peter Lee (Rotorua) to win the Recreational Services Akarana Open on the Charles Tour yesterday.

The 29-year-old shot a course record eight-under par 62 in round one, carded a flawless six-under par 64 on Saturday to lead by eight with a round to play, but a par 70 yesterday left him vulnerable if anyone burnt up the course.

And Lee did just that with a birdie laden 64 to go with a 65 on Saturday and opening 69 to finish just two strokes behind Geary. Ryan Fox was two shots back in third, Takaka amateur Blair Riordan fourth, and Tauranga pro Jared Pender shot 67, 67 and 69 for a fifth-placed finish.

Geary, who has won the Carrus Open three times, claimed his first Charles Tour title outside of his home province. The former Web.Com Tour player said he felt right at home at the Akarana Golf Club as it shares a lot of similarities with the Tauranga Golf Club where he has a lot of success.

"In a lot of ways it does," Geary said. "There are a lot of short reachable holes that you can attack but they are also tricky if you don't end up in the right places. You can tear it apart but it can tear you apart if you are not on your game."

Geary was at his scintillating best in setting a course record 62 on Friday after going out in six-under par 28.

"It was a great round," said Geary. "I hit every green in regulation and three or four in under regulation so it was about par for how I hit it. I have made a few changes and they are starting to kick in nicely. I have a four to five week stretch coming up of tournaments and it'll be nice to put that form into some results."

Mount's Bailey Smith continued to impress, finishing in 16th place with scores of 66, 71 and 73, while fellow teenager Charlie Hillier (Te Puke) showed his ability to go low with a 66 but also had two rounds of 75.