Takaka amateur Blair Riordan has shown his quality on day one of the Carrus Open today as he opened with a seven-under par 63 to lead Wellington professional Mark Brown and Bay of Plenty amateur Brad Kendall by one shot.
The Srixon Academy player, who was firmly in contention to represent New Zealand at the Eisenhower, made a statement with his round of five birdies and an eagle in cool and overcast conditions at the Tauranga Golf Club today.
"It is an awesome start and if I keep swinging it well it should continue," said the 22-year-old.
Taupo professional Troy Ropiha, who won the Wanganui Pro-am last weekend, is alone in third place. Auckland pro Luke Nobilo and amateur Tae Koh (Manukau) are tied fourth.
But the talking point was Riordan. The key to his fast start was his ball striking and a hot putter.
"I got off to a great start I birdied the first three holes. I made a birdie on 18 to get to four under then I hit a really nice hooking three wood on seven and managed to make the putt for eagle. It finished it off nicely."
He felt like he was ready for an impressive performance after working with his sports psychologist Pogo Patterson in Nelson.
"We worked on belief in myself and trust. It is making me the only person on the golf course which really helped today.
"My form has been turning around and I took a bit of confidence out of how I played the last few holes of the pro-am yesterday. It has all been positive."
Riordan is looking to stay as an amateur for at least another year and hopes to be a regular New Zealand rep in the absence of Ben Campbell and Mathew Perry who plan to turn professional.
Meanwhile, former European Tour professional Brown, who is a one-time winner on the Charles Tour, walked off the course frustrated despite shooting a six-under par 64.
The talented 36-year-old, who is currently seventh on the OneAsia Order of Merit, was six under through 14 holes and made pars in the final four holes for a flat finish.
"It is hard to be frustrated with a 64 but that was certainly the case at the end," said the former Johnnie Walker Champion.
"I have been working really hard on my putting and I am hoping that I will be able to turn it around one day. Then I will be able to realise my potential in this game but at the moment it is holding me back a bit."
Brown, who is back working with his coach Mal Tongue, has had a good 2012 including a joint runner-up finish at the New Zealand PGA and two top-six finishes in Korea and Thailand on the OneAsia Tour.
He said a win on the Charles Tour would do his self-belief the world of good.
"Yeah a win would be important for me. I have been working really hard on my game. It is probably my second or even third rejuvenation in my career. But in the last month or so I have re-dedicated myself to practice and going to the gym with another five good years in mind.
"This is the start of that for me and the first tournament where I can put it to the test. I am looking forward to seeing the hard work pay off this week but also further down the track.
"So things have been going well I just haven't played very much. The tournaments I have been playing in I have been playing well. I am looking forward to a good run of tournaments."
Kendall, who won the New Zealand Stroke Play in 2010, shot the round of the afternoon which he finished off in style with a birdie at the 18th.
He is hoping his local knowledge will help him on the weekend as he chases his first win on the Charles Tour.
In the women's field, local Tauranga golfer Grace Senior and North Harbour amateur Sai Ma share the lead after opening with rounds of even par 72.
The 19-year-old Senior, who is a consistent Bay of Plenty rep in the Toro Interprovincial team, is looking to claim her first Charles Tour event with three of the leading women currently in Turkey for the Espirito Santo Worlds event. Her Bay of Plenty team-mate Heather Lavery is only one shot further back in third place.
Srixon Development squad member Larissa Eruera began slowly with a three-over par 75 to be in a share of fourth place alongside Jess Guenzerodt (Russley) and Tyla Kingi (Opotiki).
