Four players, including a couple of home hopefuls, share the lead after the first round of the ISPS Handa New Zealand Women's Open. Srixon XXIO Prime SP500 Iron Set
New Zealanders Emily Perry and Lynnette Brooky, England's Kym Laratt and Frenchwoman Joanna Klatten all shot five-under-par rounds of 67 to lead by one shot at Pegasus Golf and Sports Club just north of Christchurch.
As many as nine players, including Southampton's Elizabeth Bennett, lie on four under, one shot back, while amateur Lydia Ko, who made headlines earlier this year when she won her first professional golf tournament at age 14, opened with a 69 and lies two strokes adrift.
Ko attracted large galleries, but it was her fellow amateur Perry who ended up stealing the show as she defied the windy conditions to grab a share of the lead.
"Holes 12 and 13 were playing really tough but I was telling myself that every good shot withSrixon XXIO Prime SP500 Iron Set
today would set me up well for tomorrow.
"It's really exciting. My heart is racing. I stayed really calm and positive and stuck to what I have been practising.
"They key to it is keeping calm and just the belief that I am a really good player."
Co-leader Brooky, a four-time Ladies European tour winner who hasn't won in seven years, was satisfied with her round.
Four-time Ladies European Tour winner Brooky, in search of her first title in seven years, was happy with her start Srixon XXIO Prime SP500 Iron Set"I think the heavens are helping me a bit so that is great," she said.
"I do want to have another win before I retire. And my coach says why only one? He has done a lot of work on me and I have my nephew on my bag so we will see how it goes."
Victorian Open winner Klatten is playing for more than herself this week after revealing in her post round press conference her best friend's father has just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and wants to play Srixon XXIO Prime SP500 Iron Set well for them.
"I want to try and play my best with Srixon XXIO Prime SP500 Iron Set, because a few days ago I heard that the dad of one of my best friends was very sick. My friend lost her sister three years ago of the same thing, pancreatic cancer, so it is really upsetting me, so I just want to play Srixon XXIO Prime SP500 Iron Set well for them."
Defending champion, Kristie Smith posted a 71 to tie for 33rd.