Hendry three shot lead at Rapid Labels Muriwai Open

Michael Hendry (courtesy Photosport)

In-form North Harbour professional Michael Hendry will take a three shot lead into today's final round of the Rapid Labels Muriwai Open.

Hendry responded to his own telling-off to make four birdies in the last six holes on the way to a four-under 68. He moved to 13-under for the tournament, three shots clear of fellow professionals Dale Clarke (Whangarei) and Richard Lee (Auckland) after they shot 70 and 71 respectively.

Three-time Charles Tour winner Doug Holloway fired a four-under 68 to loom into contention a shot back on nine-under. The Hawkes Bay player is alone in fourth place, a shot ahead of a group of five consisting of fellow professionals Grant Moorhead, 2003 New Zealand Open winner Mahal Pearce and Auckland's Marcus Wheelhouse along with teenagers Simon Brownlee (Gulf Harbour) and Steven Heyes (New Plymouth), the leading amateurs.

Meanwhile Lochiel amateur Emily Perry made a 1.5m birdie putt on the first playoff hole to claim the women's 54-hole title from New Zealand Amateur champion Cecilia Cho.

The Srixon Academy player began five shots behind Cho but stormed home with four birdies on the back nine to move to a one shot lead going down the last hole. Perry, last year's leading female on the Charles Tour Order of Merit, missed a short par putt to send the match into sudden death. Cho narrowly missed her 5m birdie putt on the first playoff hole but Perry made no mistake with her short birdie putt after a great wedge shot to grab the victory.

Clarke made the early moves in the men today to claim the lead after nine holes, when early morning winds gave way to rain for 90 minutes. The worst missed the Muriwai links with the leaders receiving the best of conditions for the final nine holes.

Hendry said he played too casually over the early part of his round, including a soft bogey at the 11th. "I spent too much time joking and talking with Richard Lee and not focussing. I told myself off and really focussed from there," Hendry said. "I still have not made many putts but I hit a lot of irons close and didn't miss. Three shots is a handy lead but then again one bad drive and a birdie from someone else and it's gone. I'll just concentrate on playing the same say and continuing to be aggressive."

Leading scores

203 Michael Hendry (North Harbour) 67 68 68
206 Dale Clarke (Whangarei) 68 68 70, Richard Lee (North Harbour) 68 67 71
207 Douglas Holloway (Hawkes Bay) 68 71 68
208 Grant Moorhead (New Plymouth) 71 69 68, Simon Brownlee (a, Gulf Harbour) 69 69 70, Mahal Pearce(Dunedin) 67 72 69, Marcus Wheelhouse (Auckland) 68 70 70, Steven Heyes (a, New Plymouth) 67 68 73
209 Daniel Pearce (a, Hastings) 72 70 67, Doug Moores (a, New Plymouth) 69 71 69, Scott Wightman (a, Mangawhai) 71 68 70
210 Brad Shilton (Auckland) 70 73 67, Vaughan McCall (a, Gore) 72 70 68, Joshua Carmichael (North Harbour) 71 70 69, Ryan Fox (a, Royal Auckland)67 74 69
211 Jim Cusdin (Waikato) 73 67 71, Peter Spearman-Burn (a, Miramar) 67 73 71
212 Andrew Green (Wellington) 69 69 74, Pieter Zwart (a, Waipukurau) 68 68 76
213 Ben Wallace (a, Royal Auckland) 71 71 71, Gary John Hill (a, Titirangi) 70 73 70, Kevin Budden (a, Waitemata) 73 68 72, Andy Gang (Auckland) 69 69 75
214 Cody Harper (a, Invercargill) 70 74 70, Brenden Stuart (Wellington) 73 71 70, Jon Bevitt (Auckland) 70 74 70, Ben Campbell (a, Masterton) 70 76 68, Mark Purser (Waikato) 69 68 77
215 Craig Owen (New Plymouth) 71 72 72, Leighton James (Hawkes Bay) 72 72 71, Peter Fowler (Auckland) 72 72 71, Cameron Jones (a, North Shore) 68 72 75
216 Scott Johnson (a, Muriwai) 70 71 75

Final leading women, par 72:
215 Emily Perry (a, Lochiel) 70 75 70, Cecilia Cho (a, Auckland) 70 70 75
223 Zoe Brake (a, Whakatane) 72 75 76
229 Ye Song Park (a, North Shore) 74 75 80, Phoebe Perrin (a, Waitangi) 71 82 76
230 Rebekah Brownlee (Gulf Harbour) 77 78 75