Top local golfer William Howard will head into the final day of the TOA Group Rarotonga Golf Amateur Open 2023 tournament today with a slender one stroke lead.

Howard shot an incredible 12 under par 60 on day two of the competition in the senior open men’s division at the Nikao golf course yesterday.

New Zealand professional golfer Pieter Zwart is hot on the heels of Howard after carding 11 under par 62 yesterday.

Both golfers carded nine under par 63 on day one on Thursday.

In the women’s senior open competition, Cook Islands’ top female golfer Rotana Howard has taken a huge lead after day two competition.

Yesterday she shot five under par 67 after carding four under par 68 on day one.

Rarotonga Golf Club president Stuart Henry said there are 143 golfers in total.

“And we have 44 visitors from 14 clubs in New Zealand, from way up North Island golf clubs, Whangaroa, Bay of Islands, Waitangi, Kaikohe and Rawene.”

Henry said there are also some from Warkworth, Omaha and Huapai.

Tauranga, Omanu, Hutt Park, Titahi Bay and Porirua are also represented. Players from South Islands’ Waikaka, Arrow Town and Lake Hawea have also assembled.

There are also 10 players from the sister club Aitutaki.

Henry said the Raro Open has been running since the late 70s and has always been held over three days on 18 holes – a 54-hole competition on gross stroke play.

He said the participating players have been placed in divisions according to their respective handicaps. The divisions are senior open men and senior open ladies, intermediate men and ladies, junior men and ladies and veteran men and ladies.