KEY POINTS:
Whakatane teenager Zoe-Beth Brake broke the women's course record to claim the lead on the first day of strokeplay at the national amateur championships on the Kapiti Coast yesterday.
Brake, 16, fired a superb round of four-under 69 at Waikanae Golf Club to open a five-shot lead on a trio of chasers.
Wellington Masters player Malcolm Gullery grabbed an unexpected lead in the men's strokeplay at neighbouring Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club.
Gullery, 43, shot a five-under 66 to lead Auckland's Van Wright by one stroke, with Tuesday's foursomes title winner, Sean Kells, of Paraparaumu, third after a 68.
Australian James Carr and Tauranga international Kevin Smith share fourth place on 69, one ahead of Tim Borren, of Paraparaumu, Riki Kauika, of Wanganui, Blair Riordan, of Takaka, and junior international Peter Spearman-Burn, of Wellington's Miramar club.
In the women's ranks, 13-year-old Cecilia Cho, of Pakuranga, Manor Park's Megan Leech and Alana Wylie, of The Grange in Auckland, share second place on one-over 74.
Brake, who will play for New Zealand in next week's Transtasman Cup, took advantage of quieter afternoon conditions to fire six birdies mixed with two dropped shots.
"Putting was my strength. I sunk some good putts and holed the par and birdie putts I needed too," Brake said.
"The wind was tough but you just have to keep yourself in play because if you're not in play around this course you are in trouble."
Leech's round was aided by a brilliant albatross on the par-five fifth hole when she holed her second shot with a four iron from 180m.
- NZPA
