The gods smiled on the early birds at the men's U19 national championships at the Waipu Golf Club yesterday with perfect weather helping the golfers playing in the morning to hit low scores.
Overnight leader Tyler Hodge followed up his three under score from Wednesday with a even par 72 to share the lead with Tauranga's Chris Charlton on 141 in the clubhouse as the sea breeze strengthened to make it tougher for the golfers playing in the afternoon.
The 17-year-old from the Levin Golf Club, who won the Australian Boys Amateur title in Brisbane this year, is well positioned to push on and win in the final round today but there are a host of golfers who could still reel him in.
Hodge, a member of the Srixon Development Squad, can play solid golf in testing conditions and if the weather turns for the worse again, he will take some beating.
On Wednesday, he scored one under after nine holes before adding two birdies, two bogeys and an eagle on the par four 14th on the back nine. "I positioned myself well and it went to plan," Hodge said.
