Both the Otago under-19 and under-16 men's teams are in third place going into the final round of the South Island age-group championships on the Tinwald course in Ashburton this morning.
Canterbury leapfrogged Tasman yesterday to take an eight-shot lead in the under-19 event while the under-16 team closed the gap to come within two shots on the second-placed Tasman quintet.
Joseph Hancock posted a 3-under 69 to help the under-16 team make up 15 shots on Tasman.
He was supported by Callum Judkins and Callum White with 77 each while Roxburgh's Daniel Arneson posted the final counting score with 78.
Sam Nichols (Nelson) leads the under-19 boys championship on 140 while Russley's Hiroki Miya remained the star of the tournament.
He added a 5-under 67 to his first round of 66 for an impressive six-shot lead on the field and looks set to take under-17 honours.
Tiaki Ogilvie (Harewood) is in line for under-15 honours with rounds of 73 and 76 while Otago's Liam Judkins is blitzing the under-13 field.
Judkins (12) goes into the final round this morning with a 14-shot buffer but posting a good score for the under-16 team will be his priority.
With Hillary O'Connor (Russley) setting a women's course record of 70 yesterday, St Clair's Abigael Crawford is out of contention in the girls under-19 grade.
Annabel Evans (Otago) and Danielle Bailey have suffered a similar fate in the under-17 and under-15 grades respectively.
