Henry, Pearce Share Muriwai Open Lead

Michael Hendry

Kiwi golfers, some proven and some new, took advantage of sublime conditions to produce hot scoring on the opening day of the Rapid Labels Muriwai Open today.

Six players hare the lead on five-under par 67 while 60 players fired par or better in the second tournament of the Charles Tour.

The squalls that made the coastal links course a nightmare on yesterday's pro-am, gave way to near-perfect conditions today, with the players taking full advantage of the superb scoring opportunities.

The six leaders include 2003 New Zealand Open winner Mahal Pearce, three-time Charles Tour winner Michael Hendry, international amateurs Ryan Fox and Peter Spearman-Burn and young hopefuls Steven Heyes and Scott Manyweathers.

Heyes (New Plymouth), in his first year out of school, was the best of the morning rounds with five birdies without blemish as the 18 year old enjoys his gap year in the best way.

Fox was in blistering form in the afternoon as he raced to six-under after 11 holes before he gave up two shots with one more birdie on his second nine.
"I absolutely flushed it today," said Fox, who finished third in the opening Charles Tour event in Tauranga. "I jarred my wrist and lost the plot a bit in the final few holes but otherwise it was great."

Hendry, the North Harbour professional, followed his runner-up effort in Tauranga with a strong start, also striking the ball superbly today.

"I hit the ball really well and hardly missed a fairway today. It was a good start. I missed quite a few makeable putts though. They were good putts but a few just slid past," Hendry.

Pearce said he was happy with his display today, in his first venture to the links course at Muriwai, north west of Auckland with six birdies and one dropped shot.

Manyweathers, a former member at Muriwai before moving to North Shore, has decided to take a more serious approach to his young career to good effect with four birdies an eagle and one bogey in his round.

Spearman-Burn (Miramar), another player at home in the usually windy conditions, showed his shot-making to good effect with six birdies in is five-under 67.

The group has a one shot lead over a group of players including two-time Charles Toru winner Doug Holloway (Hawkes Bay), back from two top-10 finishes in Papua New Guinea, Asia Tour professional Richard Lee (Auckland), who shot his stunning 59 in Tauranga, and 17-year-old North Harbour schoolboy Cameron Jones.

Holloway hit all 18 greens in regulation for the first time in his career which gives him confidence for the rest of the week, especially if the expected worsening weather allows the Muriwai Links to show its teeth.

There was merit in the efforts of Auckland female professional Phillis Meti, who fired a three-under 69, while New Zealand Amateur champion Cecilia Cho shares the amateur women's lead with fellow Srixon Academy international, Emily Perry on two-under 70.

There is a cut to the top 60 professionals and amateur males tomorrow with the 10 amateur females playing over 54 holes.

Leading scores after first round (a) denotes amateurs, par 72:
67 Steven Heyes (a, New Plymouth), Scott Manyweathers (a, North Shore), Michael Hendry (North Harbour), Mahal Pearce (Dunedin), Ryan Fox (a, Auckland), Peter Spearman-Burns (Miramar)
68 Ben Guilford (Rotorua), Cameron Jones (a, North Shore), Doug Holloway (Hawkes Bay), Pieter Zwart (a, Waipukurau), Richard Lee (Auckland), Dale Clarke (Australia), Marcus Wheelhouse (Auckland), Andy Gang (Auckland), Phillis Meti (Auckland)
69 Luke Nobilo (North Harbour), Mark Purser (Hamilton), Simon Brownlee (a, Gulf Harbour), Doug Moores (a, New Plymouth), Andrew Green (Wellington),
70 Gary-John Hill (a, Titirangi), Jared Pender (Tauranga), Jon Bevitt (Auckland), Owen Burgess (a, Russley), Scott Johnson (a, Muriwai), Steven Han (North Harbour), Clarke Osborne (Auckland), Ben Campbell (a, Masterton), Brad Shilton (Auckland), Cody Harper (a, Invercargill), Scott McApine (a, North Shore)
71 Ben Wallace (a, Royal Auckland), Brad Hayward (a, New Plymouth), James Kupa (Auckland), Jordan Dasler (Nelson), Josh Carmichael (North Harbour), Leighton James (Hawkes Bay), Scott Wightman (a, Mangawhai), Thomas Lannie (North Harbour), Jonathon Ratcliffe (a, Akarana) , Craig Owen (New Plymouth), Mathew Holten (Christchurch), Grant Moorhead (New Plymouth), John Bae (Christchurch).
72 Andrew Searle (Cambridge), Peter Fowler (Auckland), Tom Brockelsby (a, Royal Wellington). Hayden McCallum (a, Akarana), Stuart Thompson (Auckland) 72, Brian Joe (a, Akarana), Robin Smalley (North Harbour), Thomas Spearman-Burn (a, Miramar), Vaughan McCall (a, Gore), Daniel Pearce (a, Hastings), Sam An (a, Titirangi), Kevin McAllister (Wellington).
Leading women, par 72:
70 Cecilia Cho (a, Auckland), Emily Perry (a, Lochiel)
71 Phoebe Perrin (a, Waitangi)
72 Zoe Brake (a, Whakatane)
77 Rebekah Brownlee (a, Gulf Harbour), Emily Eng (a, Remuera)