Teenaged star

Highly touted South Korean teenager Joohyung Kim lived up to his billing on the opening day of the New Zealand Open in Arrowtown.

The 17-year-old will take a onestroke lead into the second round, having overcome blustery conditions to card a superb sevenunder-par 64 at Millbrook yesterday.

Kim, who has won on the Asian Tour and is already ranked 141st in the world, holed an eagle to go with his six birdies and had just one blemish – a bogey on the 370m par-four 12th – on the day.

Australian Brad Kennedy, the 2011 NZ Open champion, is breathing down Kim’s neck after his opening round six-under 66 at The Hills, as are fellow Aussies Ben Eccles and Wade Ormsby, who took advantage of calm evening conditions to card six-under 65s at Millbrook.

Leading the Kiwi charge is Harry Bateman, whose blemishfree four-under 67 at Millbrook was good enough for a share of ninth.

‘‘The wind was swirling all day and it was tough. But I managed myself really well and gave myself lots of good chances and made some good putts, too,’’ Kim said.

‘‘For tomorrow, I just have to play without any expectations and play the way I did today. A lot will also have to depend on the wind, too.’’

In addition to the blustery and variable winds, heavy rain also

Ryan Fox

occasionally pelted players and spectators during a wild afternoon.

Fresh off a string of top-10 finishes, Kennedy mixed seven birdies with an eagle and three bogeys during a colourful opening round. His eagle on the 503m par-five 17th was set up by a monster drive, followed by a sweet three-iron, which left him an eight-foot putt to bury.

‘‘That was tough. I thought it was going to hail there at one

‘‘I don’t think I have had a day like that for a long, long time.’’