KEY POINTS:
Canterbury's latest golf international, Andrew Searle, from the Russley club, fired a six-under 66 yesterday in the first round of the New Zealand 72-hole stroke-play championship at the Hamilton Golf Club to hold a one-shot lead over Australian Jamie Arnold.
Two off the pace after four-under 68s were Australian match-play champion Rohan Blizard, 17-year-old Bay of Plenty amateur Andrew Stewart and North Island stroke-play champion Nick Gillespie.
Leading NZ amateurs Troy Ropiha, James Gill and Danny Lee were in contention on one-under 71s.