Pearce equals course record at NI golf championships

Former New Zealand representative Daniel Pearce will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the North Island Stroke Play championships tomorrow after carding a superb nine under par 63 today in fine conditions at the Lochiel Golf Club near Hamilton. The 23-year-old, who is originally from Hastings but has been based in Melbourne playing out of the Yarra Yarra Golf Club in 2012, made seven birdies and an eagle at the last to match the course record which Srixon Academy member Fraser Wilkin shot in round two. He holds a one-shot lead from Rotorua's Peter Lee, who had a five under par 67, while overnight leader Craig Hamilton (Omanu) is in third two shots back from Pearce. The big-hitting Pearce, who represented New Zealand on a regular basis two years ago, will look to take advantage of his best chance to win a national title. "I hit the ball really well and the biggest thing was I holed a lot of putts,'' he said. "I hit it close all day really so I had plenty of chances and I made quite a few of them. Pearce, who had professional Pieter Zwart caddying for him, was pleased to finish his round in style at the par 5 18th. "It was tracking well the whole way. Pieter has been kind enough to be on the bag for me this week and he gave me a really nice read there. We were both pretty happy to see it go in. "I am really looking forward to the final round. I did a good job of staying patient and hitting some good shots. It all came together well.'' The women's division is tight with Lochiel member Emily Perry in a share of the lead with Lita Guo. Perry, who shared the round-one lead of the New Zealand Women's Open, had three birdies and two bogeys for a one under par 71. Guo made four birdies and three bogeys as she put pressure on the pre-tournament favourite to match her four under par total from three rounds. The pair will head into tomorrow's final round with a five-shot lead over Titirangi's Mun Chin Keh.