Cho takes eight-shot lead

New Zealand Amateur champion Cecilia Cho stamped her class on the competition to take an eight-shot lead into tomorrow's final round of the women's New Zealand under-19 golf championships in Dunedin.

She fired a superb one-under par 71, displaying consistently high quality golf at the coastal Chisholm Park Golf Club, with 17 pars and a solitary birdie.

Meanwhile first round leader Simon Brownlee (Muriwai) fired his second round in red figures to take a four-shot buffer into the final round of the men's competition over the Christchurch pair of Owen Burgess and Jordan Bakermans.

Brownlee shot a two-under 69 to move to five-under 137 with a strong display of accurate golf at the Otago Golf Club. Cho was a class of her own today to lead the overall honours as the Pakuranga 16-year-old moves towards another national title, as well as the under-17 age group honours.

Tokoroa's Chantelle Cassidy fired her second successive four-over 76 to share second place on eight-over with Mun Chin Keh (Pakuranga) who shot a three-over 75 today. They share the lead in the under-19 division while Wellington's Julianne Alvarez (Manor Park) leads the under-15 class on 15-over and sixth place overall. Manaia's Holly Winter leads the Under-13 division.

The leaders in the men's competition took advantage of still morning conditions at Balmacewen to dominate the scoring with Brownlee turning at one-over before making three birdies in the final five holes for a two-under 69. Burgess had two birdies and one dropped shot in his one-under 70 with the big move coming from national strokeplay champion Brad Kendall (Mt Maunganui) who fired seven birdies in his round of four-under 68 to move to a share of third place with defending champion Duncan Croudis (Otago).

The low round of the day came from North Harbour left hander Tom Cardno who bagged four birdies without blemish in his four-under 67.

Leading scores, national under-19 gold championships round 2: Women, Chisholm Park, par 72: 144 Cecilia Cho (Pakuranga) 73 71 152 Chanelle Cassidy (Tokoroa) 76 76, Mun Chin Keh (Pakuranga) 77 75 157 Rica Tse (North Shore) 81 78 158 Brittney Dryland (Maungakiekie) 79 79 159 Julianne Alvarez (Manor Park) 84 75 161 Laura Hoskin (Arrowtown) 82 79 162 Caryn Choo (Pakuranga) 81 81, Te Rongopai Clay Titahi Bay) 77 85, Sylvie Williams (Waimari Beach) 83 79, Alana Wylie (The Grange) Men, Otago GC, par 71: 137 Simon Brownlee (Muriwai) 68 69 141 Owen Burgess (Russley) 71 70, Jordan Bakermans (Christchurch) 72 69 142 Duncan Croudis (Otago)70 72, Brad Kendall 74 68 143 Tom Cardno (Waitemata) 76 67, Ryan Chisnall (Greenacres) 72 71 144 Chase Thomas (Ardleigh) 72 72, Jay Maaka (Westown) 73 71 145 Jonathon Ratcliffe (Akarana) 71 74, Jordan Green (Ashburton) 73 72, James Beale (North Shore) 74 71 146 Cameron Jones (North Shore) 74 72 147 Compton Pikari (Te Awamutu) 75 72, Daniel Barnett (Chisholm Park) 78 69, Jeff Kim (Whitford Park) 77 70

- NZPA