Institute of Golf professional Dale Clarke set the Omaha Beach Golf Club alight by breaking the course record at the Hawkins Construction Omaha Pro-Am.

Clarke shot a stunning second round of 62 on Sunday to lead the event until the final group of golfers finished their rounds.

Hastings’s Leighton James consolidated his first round leading score of 65 with a solid 69 to take out the title, with Clarke having to settle for a share of second place with igolf’s Michael Hendry (69 67) and Waipukurau’s Pieter Zwart (70 66).

Clarke started his round by making birdies on the short first hole, added another on the tough dog-leg fourth, then two more on 7 and 8 to turn four under par.

He immediately birdied 10 and 11, added another on 14 before a birdie on the last for his great round.

However, he was always playing catch-up after a first-day 74 on Saturday.

Clarke, who has recently returned to New Zealand after basing himself in Melbourne for two years, is making a habit of setting course records and posted a new low of 64 at Muriwai Beach the previous Sunday.

Former Northland amateur teammate Scott Wightman (igolf) – in his first season as a professional – showed he certainly wasn’t out of his comfort zone with a creditable performance by finishing in a share of ninth place.

Former Black Cap Alex Tait, also from igolf finished with a one-over 145 to finish in the middle of the 59-strong field of mostly Kiwi professionals.

Tait remains in 10th place on the NZPGA Order of Merit and Clarke now sits in eighth place.