Tauranga golfer James Hamilton was in a tie for joint sixth after the first round of the British Amateur golf championship in Scotland today.
Hamilton, 19, shot a one-under 69 at Turnberry's Ailsa course to be three shots off the lead held by Sweden's Jesper Kennegard.
Fellow New Zealander James Gill was in a tie for joint 50th after a three-over par 73.
Hamilton started with a birdie on the par four but then dropped shots at eight and nine to be one over at the turn.
But a two-under 33 on the second nine saw the Scottish-born teenager poised to make the cut at his first Amateur championship.
Gill, 22, had three bogeys on the front nine and one on the par four 10th when his ball went into a hazard.
The second round of the stroke play competition was to begin this evening (NZtime).
Leading scores after the first round of the British Amateur golf championship at Turnberry, Scotland:
66 - Jesper Kennegard (Sweden)
67 - Dale Whitnell (Britain)
68 - Andrea Pavan (Italy), Callum Macaulay (Britain), Sam Hutsby (Britain).
Also:
69 - JAMES HAMILTON (NZ)
73 - JAMES GILL (NZ).
