#NSWAm: Higgins on the hunt

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BACK NINE: Lucas Higgins shot an impressive 30 on the back nine in Mona Vale

Lucas Higgins of Murwillumbah will sleep soundly tonight after winning a solid six-under-par 66 at Mona Vale Golf Club to take second place on the men's NSW medal.

Higgins sits two shots behind the Canadian Joey Savoie, who was eight st under par-round was confirmed as a new course record this afternoon.

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Higgins impressive round featured eight birdies and only two bogeys, with the highlight being a notable back nine of six under 30 in the hot, humid conditions.

Three golfers are now in fourth place with four players, including Jordie Garner, who won 68 at Mona Vale. Maitland & # 39; s Hayden Gulliver and Adam Thorp have added their name to the leaderboard with matching 68's in Terrey Hills.

Thorp, who won the IMG Junior World Championships in San Diego in July Last year was impressive, with only one bogey among his five birdies around the testing Terrey Hills layout.

LEADERS LIGHT IT ON DAY ONE

IMPRESSIVE: Joey Savoie scored an eight under par 64.

A Canadian leads with five after an 8-under-par 64 win at Mona Vale Golf Club, while a 14-year-old Kiwi and a 15-year-old Korean card match six under par 66 to lead the women's Strokeplay in Terrey Hills this morning .

In the very first group of the day Joey Savoie played anything but flawlessly around the layout of the northern peninsula, seven birds and an eagle with only one blemish on the 9th in a great display of golf.

A far behind five is the NSW Amateur medalist last year and the number two in Australian Amateur yesterday, Nathan Barbieri and Benjamin Jones in England.

The effort of Barbieri is impressive after a marathon week in Melbourne. His flight back to Sydney only landed after 9:30 PM last night.

A group of four is once again shot at two below, including Canberra's Josh Armstong and St George's Basin David Banwell, along with Englishman Jack Hawksby and Finnish Liari Saulo.

POWER: Min A Yoon unleashes a ride on the 10th hole

Min A Yoon and Fiona Xu from New Zealand, who were grouped together this morning in Terrey Hills, had fed each other with cards corresponding to six under par 66's.

Two shots are Hannah Park from NSW Golf Club, Cara Gainer from England and another Kiwi, Carmen Lim from Golfclub Windross Farm.

The impressive Yoon, who at the age of 15 already has three titles to her name, started her day with an incredible par except the first after taking a penalty drop.

She followed it with three straight birds to lay the foundation for her opening round.

"My iron photos were very good," she said through an interpreter. "I had a caddy missing on the first nine."

"I felt very comfortable today, and I look forward to the rest of the week," she smiled.

PINT SIZED TYRO: Kiwi Fiona Xu scored a six under par 66

The diminutive Xu, who comes from Akarana Golf Club in Auckland, was delighted with her score.

"It's my best lap ever in a tournament," said the little Kiwi.

"I had three birdies on the front and four on the back."

The highlight of the round for the 14-year-old was an incredible 15-meter putt for birdie on the 16th.

"It went in and I jumped up and down a bit", she beamed.

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