New Zealand has finished strongly to be in a share of fifth place in the clubhouse after the first round of the Eisenhower Trophy world amateur team golf championships at the Royal Adelaide golf club.
The US Amateur champion Danny Lee led the charge with three birdies in the last four holes to card a three under par round of 70.
Tauranga's Jared Pender, in his rookie outing at this level, finished on even-par 73 while James Gill carded a one over par 74.
New Zealand's playing partners, USA, made no race of it, having shot to a 10-under par total for their two best counting scores and lead Scotland who shot eight-under on the nearby Grange course.
Netherlands are in third on five-under par with half the 65 nation field still on the course.
Tomorrow the New Zealand team will play the Grange course with the top half of the field then playing the final two rounds at Royal Adelaide.
