Two teenagers, Kyla Welsh and Amy Smith, shared the lead after the first round of the New Zealand women's strokeplay golf championships at Greenacres, near Nelson, yesterday.
Welsh, aged 17, of Timaru, and 16-year-old Smith, of Masterton, shot even-par 73s to hold a one-shot advantage over New Zealand representative Tina Howard
(Taupo) and Australians Nikki Campbell and Nadina Taylor.
Welsh is considered one of this country's best young prospects after winning the New Zealand under-21 title last year and this year's Australian under-21 title in Tasmania in January. She made three birdies and three bogeys, turning at one-under.
Smith had three birdies in the opening seven holes and finished with four birdies, but suffered two double bogeys.
The Australian pair had a day of mixed fortunes.
Campbell, the New South Wales champion, turned three-over, but gained two on the way home.
Taylor made three birdies in a row, finishing with five birdies mixed with four bogeys and a double bogey. Howard hit the ball well to get to one-under after 11 holes, but dropped shots at 12 and 15.
New Zealand amateur champion Carlie Butler and fellow Australian Tamara Hyett were two shots back after three-over 76s, with a group of four players a further shot adrift - defending champion Brenda Ormsby (Rotorua), New Zealand's top-ranked player Hee-Jeong Chun (Wellington), world championship international Debbie Smith (Motueka) and national junior representative Natalie Storck (North Shore).
- NZPA
