A course record seven-under par 65 has catapulted the North Harbour professional golfer Josh Carmichael into the lead after the first round of the Wairakei Open.
Carmichael, with two four-round tournament wins behind him as a professional, was at home on the Wairakei International course in the second event of the Charles Tour.
His round is one shot better than the previous course record set by Phil Tataurangi.
He has a two shot lead over Auckland-based professional Brad Shilton with a further two shots back to a group of players on three-under 69.
They include Taranaki's Grant Moorhead, fellow professionals Mathew Holten and Dale Clarke along with Wellington amateurs James Donnelly and Thomas Spearman-Burn.
New Zealand representative Caroline Bon of Northland) and the North Harbour teenager Rica Tse lead the 54 hole women's competition with even-par 72s.
