Kiwi shares Australian amateur lead

New Zealand golfer Caroline Bon shares the first round lead with Chinese Taipei's Yi-Chen Liu after the first round of the Australian women's amateur strokeplay championship in Perth.

Northlander Bon, who has represented New Zealand in numerous international championships and is a former South Island amateur champion, made the most of the sunny and clear conditions yesterday to shoot a one-under par 71 at Cottesloe Golf Club.

South Australia's Emma Ash is alone in third place after an even-par 72.

New Zealand amateur champion Cecilia Cho of Auckland fired a two-over 74 to be in a share of seventh place on two-over, while recent Australian Open qualifier Zoe Brake of Whakatane shot five-over 77 to share 19th place.

Of the other New Zealanders, Nelson's Lisa Wright shot a 79 to be one shot outside the cut line with the top 32 players after four rounds to qualify for the matchplay. Lochiel's Emily Perry was disqualified.

Meanwhile the men's competition was to begin today at Lake Karrirup and Mt Lawler courses with New Zealand represented by Ryan Fox (Auckland), Ben Campbell (Masterton), Sean Riordan (Takaka), Mathew Perry (Hamilton), Andrew Stewart (Omokoroa), Nick Gillespie (Hastings).

- NZPA