Golf: Internationals lead amateur

Internationals Ben Wallace and Mathew Perry each fired five-under-par rounds of 67 in testing conditions to share the first round lead at the New Zealand amateur strokeplay championships at Hastings Golf Club yesterday.

Wallace, of Auckland, and Perry, of Hamilton, defied strong winds to take a two-shot joint lead into today's second round at Bridge Pa.

Wallace fired seven birdies in his opening 12 holes before giving two shots back near the end of his round.

"It's a very good start. I have not been hitting it my best or feeling the most comfortable over the ball in the last few weeks, so it was good to put it together," he said.

"We got a bit lucky with the winds. It was gusty early but it died down a bit in the middle of the round which provided a few opportunities to attack a few of the pins and then it picked up again in the afternoon.

"The course is definitely playing a bit longer at this time of year than when we used to play it in January. But I hit the ball well so the length did not prove an issue."

Perry turned at four-under par and mixed two birdies with one dropped shot coming home.

The pair lead a trio of players on three-under 69 including Ben Taylor (Omokoroa), Gary-John Hill (Titirangi) and Brad Kendall (Mt Maunganui).

Meanwhile a relative unknown, Caryn Khoo from Auckland, took a surprise three-shot lead in the women's strokeplay after firing a three-under 70, the only round under par at the nearby Napier Golf Club.

Northland international Caroline Bon shared second place on even-par 73 with visiting Philippines player Lovelynn Mary Guiogui. Bon's partner Zoe Brake, the defending champion, was a shot back.

- NZPA