Green leads, Lee fires 59 in Carrus Tauranga Open

Richard Lee (courtesy Photosport)

Auckland golfer Richard Lee shot the first ever sub-60 score in a professional event in New Zealand when he fired an 11-under par 59 at the Carrus Tauranga Open today.

Lee made nine birdies and an eagle in his round, slotting a 2m birdie putt on the 10th hole, his final of the day for the course record 59 at Tauranga Golf Club.

His 12-under 128 after 36 holes was not enough to get to the lead though, with first round leader Andrew Green following his opening round 62 with a superb 63 this afternoon to move to 15-under par 125.

The Wellington professional has a three shot lead over Lee and Wellington amateur Nick Gillespie, who shot a seven-under par 63 today.

Invercargill amateur Cody Harper enjoyed his second straight sub-par round to move to nine-under par after 36 holes in fourth place.

Taranaki professional Grant Moorhead fired a five-under 65 to be in fifth place on seven-under, a shot clear of a quartet including defending champion Michael Hendry, fellow Auckland professional Andy Gang and New Zealand amateur internationals Peter Spearman-Burn (Wellington) and Ryan Fox (Auckland).

The day belonged to Lee, the Japan and Asian Tour professional, with his remarkable round.

"Those sorts of rounds just happen and you just enjoy the ride," Lee said. "I started thinking about 59 on about the fifth to last hole and thought I had lost it a couple of times but I just managed to sneak in on the last hole. The last hole was the only time I got a little bit nervous. I wasn't sure what to do on the last. It's a driveable par-4 and I ummed and ahhed whether I should go for it or whether to lay up. I made a decision earlier in the week that I was going to really attack this course and so I did. The drive went in to the bunker but I got it to 6 feet and I must admit the hands were shaking a bit on that putt."

"The course is playing nice. There are some short holes but there are some testing ones particularly the par-3s. The greens are excellent and running at really good speed. I made a lot of good putts today. I never dreamed that I would do it. I can't explain how I feel - I am just enjoying the moment. I have shot 10-under a few times, always in competition.

Lee said he got a valuable coaching tip from former host club professional John Reid this week had proved valuable, as had the support he received from young local caddy Cameron McFadgen.

Gillespie fired his second straight low round, mixing eight birdies with a solitary dropped shot in his seven-under 63.

The former Hawkes Bay player, who has recently moved to Wellington, said some help with his mental approach made the difference.
"I was annoyed with how I played in the New Zealand Amateur," Gillespie said. "I got some really good advice and it has paid off so far this week. I plan to stay relaxed and focussed and hopefully I can follow it up with a good weekend."

Green was steady at two-under after the harder back nine before he unleashed with five birdies in seven holes in his 63 to leave him within safely in front of the field for the weekend.

New Zealand representative Caroline Bon has stolen a march in the women's contest, and will take a whopping 13 shot lead into their final round tomorrow.

Bon followed her four-under 67 yesterday with a one-under 70 to move to 137 with another strong display from the New Zealand Strokeplay champion.

The perfect conditions and excellent greens led to more hot scoring today with 62 players making the cut in the men's competition on one-over par 141.

Leading scores, round 2, Tauranga GC, par 70, (a) denotes amateur:
125 Andrew Green (Wellington) 62 63
128 Richard Lee (Auckland) 69 59, Nick Gillespie (a, Royal Wellington) 65 63
131 Cody Harper (a, Invercargill) 63 68, Ben Campbell (a, Masterton) 66 65
132 Mathew Holten (Christchurch) 66 66
133 Grant Moorhead (New Plymouth) 68 65
134 Andy Gang (Auckland) 67 67, Peter Spearman-Burn (a, Miramar) 68 66, Ryan Fox (a, Auckland) 67 67, Michael Hendry (North Harbour) 69 65
135 Ben Wallace (a, Auckland) 67 68, Daniel Pearce (a, Hastings) 67 68
136 Dominic Barson (Auckland) 70 66, Matt Perry (Hamilton) 70 66, Leonard Morgan (a, Tokoroa) 69 67, Pieter Zwart (a, Waipukurau) 67 69, Brad Kendall (a, Mt Maunganui) 71 65
137 Kieran Muir (a, Omokoroa) 70 67, James Hamilton (a, Omanu) 68 69, Tane Robson (a, Cambridge) 68 69, Scott Johnson (a, Muriwai) 67 70, Peter Lee (a, Springfield) 65 72, David Klein (Te Anau) 67 70, Kevin Budden (a, Waitemata) 67 70, Peter Fowler (Auckland) 71 66, Cameron Jones (a, North Shore) 70 67, Blair Murdock (a, Tauranga) 68 69
138 Tyler Lock (a, Castlecliff) 70 68, Shaun Richards (Wellington) 70 68, Campbell Irvine (a, Mt Maunganui) 70 68, Sam An (a, Titirangi) 67 71, Ben Gallie (Queenstown) 67 71, Joon-Ho Choi (New Plymouth) 70 68, Steven Han (North Harbour) 68 70, Brenden Stuart (Wellington) 64 74, Troy Ropiha (Taupo) 67 71
139 Alex Tait (Northland) 72 67, Mahal Pearce (Dunedin) 69 70, Glen Millin (Hamilton) 67 72, Mark Purser (Hamilton) 67 72, Blair Riordan (a, Takaka) 70 69, Tom Cardno (a, Waitemata) 69 70, Dean Sipson (North Harbour) 69 70, Leighton James (Hawkes Bay) 66 73, Sam Davis (a, Otumoetai) 73 66
140 Aaron Leech (a, Royal Wellington) 72 68, Jordan Dasler (Nelson) 72 68, Ben Taylor (a, Omokoroa) 71 69, Mark Boe (Australia) 69 71, Gary-John Hill (a, Titirangi) 69 71, Ilsuk Jung (Auckland) 69 71, Nick Meyer (a, Mt Maunganui) 69 71, Scott Hill (Australia) 65 75, Brad Hayward (a, New Plymouth) 74 66, Tom Brockelsby (a, Royal Wellington) 65 75, Marcus Wheelhouse (Auckland) 70 70, Andrew Stewart (a, Omokoroa) 70 70
141 Andrew Searle (Cambridge) 70 71, Jonty Philipson (Masterton) 70 71, Josef Edge (a, Hamilton) 74 67, Jared Pender (Tauranga) 69 72
Women, par 71:
137 Caroline Bon (Northland) 67 70
150 Faye-Amy Nickson (Peninsula) 76 74, Emily Perry (Lochiel) 74 76
158 Rebekah Brownlee (Gulf Harbour) 74 84
159 Jess Guenzerodt (Christchurch) 78 81