New Zealand rep Sam An will have his best chance of winning a national title in the final round of the New Zealand under-19 championship today at Omokora.
The 17-year-old from the Titirangi Golf Club, who opened with an impressive five-under-par 67, backed that up in the second round yesterday with a one-under-par 71.
He will take a six-shot lead into the final round from Australian Jarrod Freeman and Cameron Jones (North Shore).
An has had a year of milestones.
He was selected in the Srixon Academy, recently made his international debut for the national senior team at the Nomura Cup in Fiji, and today, if he can hold on, it would be fitting reward for a young player full of promise.
He will try to join a club that is a who's who of New Zealand golfers who have won the under-19 title. It includes the likes of Greg Turner, Michael Campbell, Michael Long, Grant Moorhead and Australian Adam Scott in 1996.
"It would be really great," said An.
"This is my home country and I have always wanted to win a national title. I won the NZ Foursomes with Fraser [Wilkin] this year, but that doesn't really count. I want to win an individual national title and it is about getting the job done tomorrow."
Unlike his flawless opening round, An had an up-and-down 18 holes yesterday, which included five birdies and four bogeys, and admitted to feeling nervous as he tried to back up his day-one heroics.
He will look to attack in the third and final round and make the most of this opportunity.
"I don't know why, but I feel really comfortable this week. It has been great coming back from Fiji after playing a high level of golf and feeling like I am at ease in this company."
Meantime, in the women's under-19 championship further down the coast at Omanu, world No2 Cecilia Cho showed her class as she carded a four-under-par 68 yesterday.
The two-time New Zealand amateur champion, who opened with a one-over 73 on Wednesday, made five birdies and a bogey to establish a six-shot lead heading into the final round.
"I played really solid today," said the 16-year-old from the Pakuranga Country Club.
"I stuck to my processes, I stayed patient and tried to hit as many greens and fairways as possible. I was pleased to shoot a 68 and now I am in a good position."
Cho (-3) leads Auckland team mate Liv Cheng (Manukau) and Julianne Alvarez (Manor Park), who share second place on three over par.
Catherine Bell (Ashburton), who shared the lead after round one, slipped back to a share of sixth place after a seven-over 79.
Men's under-19 36-hole scores:
138 Sam An (Titirangi) 67 71
144 Jarrod Freeman (Australia) 71 73, Cameron Jones (North Shore) 72 72
145 Compton Pikari (Te Awamutu) 72 73
146 Tyler Hodge (Levin) 73 73, William Howard (Rotorua) 71 75, Jack Sullivan (Australia) 77 69
147 Jordan Bakermans (Christchurch) 72 75, Nick Voke (Manukau) 74 73
148 Ryan Chisnall (Greenacres) 76 72, Harry Yang (Pupuke) 75 73
149 Jin Myeong Hwang (Tauranga) 74 75, Simon Viitakangas (Australia) 75 74, Denzel Ieremia (Hamilton, NZ) 78 71
150 Brian Joe (Titirangi) 75 75, Jordan Green (Ashburton) 75 75, Anthony Cope (North Shore) 74 76, Matthew Spraggs (Boulcott's Farm Heritage) 71 79, Jonathon Ratcliffe (Akarana) 78 72, Peter Lee (Rotorua) 75 75
151 Trent Munn (Manawatu) 75 76, Tae Koh (Manukau) 74 77, Jason Yoo (Waitikiri) 78 73, Thomas Neylon (Waipu) 76 75
152 Steven Kuggeleijn (Lochiel) 74 78, Luke Toomey (Ngaruawahia) 80 72, Michael McAuley (Russley) 78 74, Aaron Garnett (Muriwai) 80 72, Brayden Mazey (Boulcott's Farm Heritage) 75 77, Jayson Mathiou (Australia) 76 76, James Eng (Remuera) 73 79, Bailey Smith (Mt Maunganui) 78 74
Women's under-19 scores:
141 Cecilia Cho (Pakuranga) 73 68
147 Liv Cheng (Manukau) 75 72, Julianne Alvarez (Manor Park, NZ) 75 72
151 Jesse Hamilton (Maungakiekie) 74 77, Chantelle Cassidy (Tokoroa) 74 77
152 Caryn Khoo (Pakuranga) 77 75, Catherine Bell (Ashburton) 73 79
154 Grace Senior (Rotorua) 83 71
155 Keita Durie (Palmerston North) 75 80, Imogen Donnelly-Lawrence (Manor Park) 79 76, Sai Ma (North Shore) 79 76, Mun Chin Keh (Pakuranga) 79 76
156 Brianna Maynard (Aviation) 74 82, Emma Clayton (Manawatu) 80 76
157 Lita Guo (North Shore) 78 79