Golf: Wallace earns share of lead

Auckland teenager Ben Wallace holed a wedge for a birdie on the 17th and sank a long par putt on the last at Titirangi yesterday to shoot three-under 67 and share the lead after the first round of the AMP Open.

Matching the 18-year-old was Christchurch-based professional Mathew Holten, who was four under after eight holes but dropped a shot on the par-four 17th when he missed the green to the right.

Australian professional James Beston shot 68 and on 69 were amateurs Scott Johnson (Muriwai) and Kevin Smith (Tauranga) and Gulf Harbour professional Michael Hendry. Smith birdied four of the first five holes to be out in 32 but faded on the second nine.