KEY POINTS:
Even though she dropped two shots at the last hole, 14-year-old Auckland golfer Cecilia Cho was still the leading New Zealander after the second day of the New Zealand Women's Open near Christchurch today.
Cho finished the second day in a tie for sixth after rounds of 69 and 73 at the Clearwater Resort course, seven shots behind Australian leader Sarah Oh.
Cho not only found the windy conditions more difficult than the first round but confessed to not hitting the ball with the precision of the previous day.
"My putting was good, but I did not hit my tee shots or approaches to the green at all well, It was much tougher with the wind, but I am still in a good position," she said.
She was all square after nine, having swapped a birdie for a bogey, then had two birdies on 10 and 13, a bogey on 14 before her double on 18.
"That was a disappointing way to finish, but I am looking forward to coming back in one of the final groups tomorrow," she said.
Next best New Zealanders were national under-23 amateur champion Zoe Brake - who beat Cho for the title two weeks ago at the Pakuranga club - and Wellington's Sarah Nicholson on 146 in a tie for 16th.
Brake shot her second consecutive one-over 73 and Nicholson had a 75.
Another amateur, Northland's Caroline Bon, was a further shot back after her two-over 74 and is in a tie for 23rd on 147.
- NZPA