As the country was hit by a southerly blast, the professionals at the Long Blacks Nelson Pro-Am didn’t escape.

The field was presented with a strong cold southerly wind, that gusted to 60kph, with scores averaging four shots higher than round one.

James Tauariki followed his bogey free first round of six under par 66, with a round of 71, to edge Jordan Loof and Tyler Hodge by one stroke. His round was not without drama as a severe wind gust on the par-5 9th green moved his resting ball from five feet to thirty feet resulting in a bogey six. He accepted his misfortune like a true professional and bounced back with an eagle three on the next hole. Tauariki birdied his penultimate hole the par-3 15th and a solid par on the 16th secured his first victory as a professional.

Loof was left to rue his finish, making bogeys on his last two holes to finish in a tie for second place. He was joined by Hodge who at one stage was three under par for his round. Bogeys on the 12th and 14th holes, followed by four steady pars tied up second place.

The shot of the day went to birthday boy Dongwoo Kang on the 1st hole when he holed out with a gap wedge from 115m for an eagle two.

The pro-am circuit now moves on to Marlborough for an 18-hole event tomorrow.