Golf: Defending champion shares golfing lead

Lydia Ko. Photo / Getty Images

Defending champion Lydia Ko achieved a share of the lead after the first round of the 54-hole North Island Strokeplay Championships in Taupo yesterday.

The brilliant 12-year-old Ko (Pupuke) celebrated her recent New Zealand citizenship in style to fire a three-under 70 to share the honours with Auckland's Alana Wylie on a hard and fast Centennial course.

They hold a two-shot lead over Tokoroa's Kelly Nicholas with a quartet of chasers a shot further back on even par 73 comprising Lisa Wright (Nelson), Chantelle Cassidy (Tokoroa), Heather Lavery (Rotorua) and Singapore visitor Charlotte Thomas.

A further four players, including Srixon Academy player Caroline Bon (Northland), share eighth place on one-over 74.

Several of the favoured players had slow starts with New Zealand Amateur champion Cecilia Cho (Pakuranga) shooting a two over 75, dropping three shots in her last five holes. New Zealand strokeplay champion Zoe Brake (Whakatane) had two double bogeys in her four-over 77 and Charles Tour leading amateur Emily Perry (Lochiel) had a triple bogey in her five-over 78.

Starting on the 10th hole, Ko started with a birdie but turned two-under after three birdies in five holes. She dropped a shot at the second hole before making a further two birdies for her three-under 70.

Wylie (The Grange) managed only three pars on her first nine holes, but turned two-under with four birdies and two dropped shots, and picked up one further birdie in a more solid back nine. Kelly had a day of mixed fortunes, mixing five birdies with four bogeys in her 72.

There is plenty at stake with one spot up for grabs in next month's Pegasus New Zealand Women's Open for the winner. The tournament ends tomorrow.