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Tauranga professional Jared Pender and Paraparaumu amateur James Betts hold the clubhouse lead after two rounds as the weather continued to dominate the Wairakei Open.
More than half of the field had a 7am start to complete their first round following rain yesterday before more wet weather brought a further 90 minute delay today.Pender, in his first tournament since May, impressed with his second straight two-under par 70 to move to four-under after 36 holes.
Betts, the 2008 national strokeplay champion, followed his opening 69 with a one-under 71 to share the lead with Pender.
Wellington’s Thomas Brockelsby (Royal Wellington) is a shot back on three-under after a two-under 70 today, two shots clear of New Zealand representative Matt Perry (Hamilton) on even par with a one-under 71 this afternoon.
Sixty players were left on the course when play was called off for the day and they will complete their second rounds from 7am tomorrow and weather permitting, officials hope to be able to the third round tomorrow on schedule including the completion of the women’s 54-hole competition.
Of those on the course Auckland amateur Marcus Wilkins is three-under for the tournament through nine holes in his second round, overnight leader Michael Hendry from the Institute of Golf is two-under while Gareth Paddison and Nick Gillespie are at one-under.
Brilliant thirteen-year-old New Zealand representative Lydia Ko (igolf), who played 27 holes today, followed a superb three-under 69 this morning with a one-over 73 in the afternoon to move to two-under after 36 holes.
She will take a sizeable lead into the final round, currently 10 shots clear of Tokoroa’s Chantelle Cassidy in the clubhouse lead with the rest of the field still to complete their second rounds.
Pender has spent much of his time over the last four months mixing practice with work at the family horse racing stables at Tauranga.
He had eyed a top five finish coming into the tournament but was surprised with his position.
He had eyed a top five finish coming into the tournament but was surprised with his position.
“My goal was to beat Michael Hendry,” Pender joked. “Actually a top five was a goal and after so long without playing in a tournament it feels more like a bit of a holiday, a working one.
“My tee balls and my chipping and putting have been good. My irons have been average as I only hit 12 greens out of 36 holes. I just have to keep the faith and stay with it.
“I find it really hard to come on and off the course, waking up to play at 7am today and then being out there in the middle of the afternoon. It’s a challenge but while I don’t really like it you just have to get your head around it.”
Pender was one-over through nine holes in his second round before making three birdies coming home. It was a similar story for Betts who was also one-over after nine holes and mixed three birdies with one dropped shot.
National representatives Ko, Caroline Bon and team reserve Emily Perry are using the event as a shakedown for next month’s Espirito Santo world teams championship with the Wairakei course set up to mirror the length of the course in Argentina.
The extra length did not bother Ko who impressed today. She made four birdies with one dropped shot in her 69, and came from two-over after nine holes in the second round with two birdies and one bogey coming home.
“It was a very long day. This morning I was really consistent and I hit most greens in regulation,” Ko said. “I didn’t find it too bad starting early this morning because I am usually up early. It was quite hard in the conditions.
“I made sure I had something to eat every hole and something to drink. It’s important to keep your energy up and keep going in the flow.
“I hit it well again in the afternoon but my putting let me down. The greens were a bit bumpier but it was really more my fault with the putting.
“I hit it well again in the afternoon but my putting let me down. The greens were a bit bumpier but it was really more my fault with the putting.
“I wasn’t playing that well last week. But from this week I think I will take more confidence and will be ready for Argentina.”
