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 2006 GTNZ WAIRAKEI OPEN Wednesday 13 – Sunday 17 September, 2006 North Harbour professional leads GTNZ Wairakei Open North Harbour club professional Scott Overend has the first round lead in the $40,000 GTNZ Wairakei Open near Taupo today. Overend, a professional at the Peninsula club, fired a five-under par 67 in splendid conditions at the Wairakei course. The Wairakei Open is part of the Golf Tour New Zealand established by Greg Turner to provide opportunities for young New Zealand professionals and to raise the bar for the leading amateurs, both men and women. Overend has a one shot lead from New Zealand representative Mark Purser (Hamilton). It proved an outstanding day for the world amateur team championship-bound Eisenhower and Espirito Santo players. Purser led the way on 68 followed by Josh Geary (Tauranga) on two-under 70 while Sarah Nicholson (Wellington) and Sharon Ahn (Takapuna) both shot one-under 71s. A group of eight players are in a share of third place on two-under par 70 including Geary, Auckland rookie professional Kevin Chun, fellow professionals Carl Brooking (Canterbury), Andrew McNair (Palmerston North), Ben Gallie (Otago) and Martin Pettigrew along with amateurs Chris Judd (Queenstown) and Jumbo Kim (Gulf Harbour). Nicholson and Ahn were in a share of 11th place on 71 with professionals Brad Shilton (Waikato) and top senior Craig Owen (Taranaki). There were 20 players on even par of better. Overend was four-under after four holes after an eagle and two birdies. He finished with five birdies and an eagle mixed with two dropped shots. Purser was in fine touch with just one dropped shot on the 10th mixed with five birdies, following on from his fine form in the USA and victory in the Waikato Strokeplay two weeks ago. Chun, back briefly from competing on the Asian Tour, also made a hot start to scorch through the opening nine holes in six-under, after an eagle at the par-5 first and four more birdies. The wheels fell off on the way hole with a double bogey and two dropped shots for his 70. Brooking also made a raft of birdies, six in all, but had a double bogey and two bogeys in his round. Geary, back from the USA and building to next month's Eisenhower Trophy, enjoyed a solid performance with four birdies and two bogeys. It was also a strong day for New Zealand's top females led by Nicholson, who finished fourth in the British Strokeplay earlier this month. She mixed five birdies with four dropped shots while teammate Ahn enjoyed two birdies and a bogey in her first round at arguably New Zealand's top course. The leading 60 players plus ties after tomorrow's second round will progress to the final two rounds.Full scores www.gtnz.org For further information: |
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