Professionals Richard Lee and Brenden Stuart fired five-under 67s to lead after the first round of the Port Taranaki Open golf championship in New Plymouth yesterday.
The pair took advantage of the more tranquil morning conditions at the New Plymouth Golf Club on the first day of the $40,000 Charles Tour event.
Lee and Stuart have a three-shot advantage over a group of six players including three-time Charles Tour winner Doug Holloway, professionals Nick Davey (Te Puke), Hamish Robertson (Taihape), Australian-based Dale Clarke, Tauranga Open winner Michael Hendry (North Harbour) and the leading female, Lydia Ko.
Ko, 12, is the leading amateur ahead of local New Plymouth Boys High School player Steven Heyes, who shot an even-par 72.
There were 15 players at par or better.
Lee hit seven birdies and two dropped shots in his round.
The former regular on both the Japan and Asian Tours is hoping his round signals a turnaround in his fortunes this season.
"I have been playing well for a while but things have not been happening for me," said the North Harbour professional.
"I was solid," he added.
"I hit some good shots in the wind and hit some closer than I have been and made some putts accordingly."
Lee has returned to the Ngamotu course for the first time in seven or eight years, and relished in the challenge of the coastal layout.
"I forgot how good this course is," he said.
"The back nine is probably one of the best back nines in the country. It's awesome."
Stuart, the young Wellington professional who finished sixth at the recent Wairakei Open, played alongside Lee, blistering his way to eight birdies along with a double bogey on the 13th and bogey on the ninth hole.
In women's play, Pupuke's Ko mixed four birdies with two dropped shots in her fine two-under par 70.
"I played okay. My short putts were good but the long putts were pretty terrible," Ko said.
She has a three-shot lead over North Harbour's Faye Amy Nickson with a further shot back to the Wairakei Open winner, Emily Perry (Lochiel).
- NZPA
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