He took advantage of fine and calm conditions with three birdies and a lone bogey to shoot up from sixth to second on 144, just two shots behind overnight co leader Sam Marsters (Miramar), who shot another par 71 to lead the under-19 division on 142.
“I had a lot of two-putts from the edge of the green. A couple of really close ones on seven and eight for tap-in birdies and another good birdie on 16. So it was an awesome day in good conditions,” White said.
Stephen Liu (Whitford Park) slipped back to third after a 74 left him on 145.
The best of the Otago players are Lewis Harper (DJGC), fifth on 148; and Liam Judkins (WJGC) and Jacob Murray (St Clair), on 152.
Zak Swanwick (Napier) and Robby Turnbull (Remuera) lead the under-16s on 144 after solid rounds. Russley’s Cooper Moore (12) was outstanding among older boys with a par-71 round including a birdie and a bogey to sit third on 145.
The best of the Otago players are the WJGC juniors Nicolas Chiefetz, sixth on 153, and Ricky Kang and Noah Novacek, eighth on 156.
Amy Weng (Russley) took a grip on the under-19 girls with a fine 70, including a nice eagle three on the fifth hole to lead with 144. Lizzie Neale (Nelson) lost her first round lead to sit second, four shots back.
Favourite Maddie May (Clearwater) struggled again and was 6 over par after 11 holes before storming home with four birdies to finish third on 149 and still in with a chance in the final round.
In the under-16 group, Grace Zhan (Maungakiekie) continued her domination with a fine 72 and 143 total to lead Rianne Li (Akarana), on 147. Wakatipu Junior Sumin Kang slipped back with a 76 and a 148 total to sit in third place.
