18 Feb 2012

Two Kiwis in share of the lead after day one of NZ Open

6:40 pm on 18 February 2012

Two locals were among the the leaders after the first day of the New Zealand Open women's golf tournament - and neither of them was the national number one Lydia Ko.

Aucklander Ko - the world's best amateur - is two shots back in a share of 14th at the Pegasus course near Christchurch.

She's been upstaged by another New Zealand amateur, Waikato's Emily Perry, and senior professional Lynnette Brooky.

Both finished day one in a four-way share of the lead at Pegasus, near Christchurch after shooting a five-under par 67 for a one-stroke lead with Frenchwoman Joanna Klatten and England's Kym Larratt.

Brooky's playing her first-ever NZ Open but has won four times on the Ladies European Tour and says she wants one more win before she retires - while her coach asked her why she should stop at one more win.

The Auckland teenage star Ko says she's surprised at the number of spectators in the galleries, which was nice after her five straight tournaments in Australia.