Young amateur joins Hendry, Lee in Rapid Labels Muriwai Open lead

Richard Lee (courtesy photosport)

In-form professionals Michael Hendry and Richard Lee took advantage of the still morning conditions to jump to a share of the lead after the second round of the Rapid Labels Muriwai Open today.

Lee shot a five-under par 67 while Hendry shot an error-free four-under 68 to move to nine-under par after 36 holes at the Muriwai links.

They were joined late in the day by Taranaki teenager Steven Heyes, who braved the toughest winds of the day, to fire a four-under 68 to retain a share of the lead in the Charles Tour event.

The trio have a one shot lead on Australian-based professional Dale Clarke and talented Hawkes Bay amateur Pieter Zwart who both shot four-under 68s.

Two-time Charles Tour winner Mark Purser, the Waikato professional, shot a four-under 68 also to share sixth place on seven-under, with the top-10 rounded out with four players sharing seventh place on six-under. They include Auckland professionals Marcus Wheelhouse and Andy Gang, in-form Wellington pro Andrew Green and North Harbour teenager Simon Brownlee.

Hendry, a two-time winner on the Charles Tour, was three-under at the turn and picked up one more birdie, although had plenty of other chances on the greens. "I probably hit the ball the best that I can remember but did not make any putts. I consistently gave myself birdie opportunities but the putter was cold today," Hendry said. "I hit 16 greens and only just missed the other two. It's not a ball-striking issue. I've just got to find a way of getting my putts to drop and I think I will be good.

Hendry picked up his second Charles Tour win at the Port Taranaki Open last year in atrocious wet and windy conditions, and says he is ready should forecasted bad weather descend on Muriwai. "I consider myself a pretty good wind player. I can generally control my trajectory and shape in the wind. I actually enjoy playing in the wind. I think it actually helps more than hinders."

Lee enjoyed another strong day with six birdies and one dropped shot in his 67, to continue his excellent form. "It's been really solid golf which is pleasing. There were just three silly mistakes which is where the bogeys came from this week.  Other than that I am really happy with how it is going," Lee said.
"I am looking for consistency. Overseas it has been three good rounds and one mediocre to bad in the final round that that pushes you from top five to go out to 50th. It could be a mental thing, but I am not sure yet." He hopes to solve that on the weekend before returning to compete in two events in Japan next week.

There were ups and downs in the second round today with Phillis Meti on the way to becoming the first female professional to make a Charles Tour cut until a disastrous 10 on the par-5 14th derailed her progress.

On the other side of things Wheelhouse recovered from a triple bogey to post an excellent two under 70 and move to a share of seventh and well in contention for the weekend.

The cut for the top 60 professionals and male amateurs was three-over 147.
Leading scores after first round (a) denotes amateurs, par 72:
135 Steven Heyes (a, New Plymouth) 67 68, Michael Hendry (North Harbour) 67 68, Richard Lee (Auckland) 68 67
136 Dale Clarke (Australia) 68 68, Pieter Zwart (a, Waipukurau) 68 68
137 Mark Purser (Hamilton) 69 68
138 Andrew Green (Wellington) 69 69, Andy Gang (Auckland) 69 69, Marcus Wheelhouse (Auckland) 68 70, Simon Brownlee (a, Gulf Harbour) 69 69
139 Mahal Pearce (Dunedin) 67 72, Scott Wightman (a, Mangawhai) 71 68, Doug Holloway (Hawkes Bay) 68 71
140 Doug Moores (a, New Plymouth) 69 71, Grant Moorhead (New Plymouth) 71 69, Peter Spearman-Burns (Miramar) 67 73, Cameron Jones (a, North Shore) 68 72, Jim Cusdin (Waikato) 73 67.
141 Ryan Fox (a, Auckland) 67 74, Kevin Budden (a, Waitemata) 73 68, Scott Johnson (a, Muriwai) 70 71, Luke Nobilo (Auckland) 69 72, Josh Carmichael (North Harbour) 71 70.
142 Clarke Osborne (Auckland) 70 72, Daniel Pearce (a, Hastings) 72 70, John Bae (Christchurch) 71 71, Vaughan McCall (a, Gore) 72 70, Jared Pender (Tauranga) 70 72, Ben Wallace (a, Royal Auckland) 71 71.
143 Brad Shilton (Auckland) 70 73, Brian Joe (a, Akarana) 71 71, Craig Owen (New Plymouth) 71 72, Mathew Holten (Christchurch) 71 72, Scott McApine (a, North Shore) 70 73, Brad Hayward (a, New Plymouth) 71 72, Gary-John Hill (a, Titirangi) 70 73.
144 Andrew Stewart (a, Tauranga) 74 70, Brenden Stuart (Wellington) 73 71, Cody Harper (a, Invercargill) 70 74, Troy Ropiha (Taupo) 74 70, Peter Fowler (Auckland) 72 72, Jon Bevitt (Auckland) 70 74, Leighton James (Hawkes Bay) 72 72.
Leading women, par 72:
140 Cecilia Cho (a, Auckland) 70 70
145 Emily Perry (a, Lochiel) 70 75
147 Zoe Brake (a, Whakatane) 72 75
149 Ye Song Park (a, North Shore) 74 75