KEY POINTS:
New Zealand have made a strong start to the Espirito Santo amateur women's teams golf world championship in Adelaide yesterday.
They are in a share of fourth place after shooting a three-over 147 for the two best counting scores on the more testing par-72 West course at Grange
Golf Club.
New Zealand amateur champion Dana Kim led the way with a one-over 73 while United States-based Cathryn Bristow shot 74 and Natasha Krishna contributed a non-counting 78.
Sweden jumped clear of the field by posting 137 on the easier par-73 East course, eight shots clear of second placed Spain. Japan are third on 146.
New Zealand Golf high performance manager David Graham said the team played to instructions to leave them well placed.
"The West course is more demanding and difficult especially with some overnight rain and early drizzle and winds," Graham said.
"The plan from coach Susan Farron was to play the percentages today, to keep the ball in play and opt for the safe side of the greens.
"We move to the East course [today] where Sweden ran hot. It requires more accuracy off the tee but there are good scoring chances there."
Graham said Kim, 20, was rock-solid.
"Dana did what Dana does - hit the fairways and hit the greens. She did not get any real luck on the greens today."
Meanwhile, Auckland moved a step nearer a place in the semifinals of the national women's interprovincial amateur teams championship with a convincing win over Aorangi-South Canterbury in Nelson yesterday.
Auckland's 3 1/2 to 1 1/2 win left them the only unbeaten side in section one after four rounds.
Defending champions Bay of Plenty suffered their first loss yesterday morning, tripping up 2-3 against a North Harbour with an average age of 15 and boasting three newcomers in their lineup.
North Harbour, with Lydia Ko, 11, still unbeaten, banked their third win at Canterbury's expense in the fourth round and Bay of Plenty bounced back to account for Wellington 3 1/2 to 1 1/2.
Unbeaten No 1 Zoe Brake won at the 17th hole for Bay of Plenty while Susan Lines and Krystle Kearns beat the Sina sisters, Pesi and Heu, both by 5 and 4 margins.
A crunch match in the section will be between Auckland and Bay of Plenty this afternoon while North Harbour still have to play the dangerous Aorangi-South Canterbury.
In section two, Waikato and Hawkes Bay-Poverty Bay both continued their winning ways.
The highlight of the day though was North Harbour's win over Bay of Plenty, with Ko and Hanee Song, 12, keeping cool heads to win their games at the last hole.
- NZPA