Golf: Brave Brad returns and is pride of the north

Tauranga Golfer Brad Iles will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the North Island Championships in New Plymouth today.

Iles, the 2003 North Island champion, made his return to competitive golf this summer after enduring a serious head injury in a golf cart accident while playing in the United States.

He shot a two-under par 70 following his morning 71 for a 54-hole total of 210, six-under par in the rain-interrupted championships at the Ngamotu links course.

Only half of the 130-strong field was able to complete their second rounds on Friday with the remaining half playing yesterday morning. Iles has a one-shot advantage over New Plymouth's Regan MacRae, with a further shot back to second-round leader Troy Ropiha. Ropiha, like MacRae playing on his home course, shares third place with Wellington's Andrew Henare on 212, four-under par.

Wellington's Andrew Green is in fifth place on 213, a shot ahead of Andrew Searle (Christchurch) and Ryan Leslie (Kapiti Coasts) and Wellington's Brenden Stuart. He shot the third round low score of three-under 69, including five birdies in demanding conditions.

New Zealand representative Mathew Holten (Te Aroha) is in a group sharing ninth place on one-under 215. He shot a third round even-par 72 after his morning three-under 69, sharing that place with fellow Titleist squad member Kevin Chun (Auckland), 14-year-old Danny Lee (Rotorua), Bay of Plenty No 1 Mark Smith and Luke Scrimgeour.

Several of the top names are perched within touch of the lead, including Titleist squad players Jae An (Rotorua), James Gill (Hamilton) and the first round leader and 1997 New Zealand Amateur champion Andrew Johns.

Iles said he was ready to put more pressure on himself following some useful form in Australia, including winning the Australian foursomes title with Holten.

"The doctors told me not to put myself under pressure for two years. But I'm ready to test myself a bit more," Iles said.

- AGENCIES