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 2006 GTNZ WAIRAKEI OPEN Wednesday 13 – Sunday 17 September, 2006 Holloway grabs leads in GTNZ Wairakei Open 16 Sept 2006 Holloway shot a three-under par 69 for the day’s low round in cool and strong winds at Wairakei International near Taupo for a three round total of seven-under par 209. Last year’s Olex Taranaki Open champion has a two shot lead over brilliant 16-year-old Danny Lee (Rotorua) and New Zealand representative Mark Purser (Hamilton) on five-under. Overnight leader, New Zealand women’s representative Sarah Nicholson managed two-over par 74 today to be in fourth place on four-under, two shots clear of Christchurch’s Tony Christie with a further two shots to fellow professional Andrew McNair (Palmerston North). Professionals Chris Judd (Queenstown) and Kevin Chun (Auckland) share seventh place on one-over par 217 with six players tied for ninth place on two-over. This includes New Zealand representative Josh Geary who was one of only four players to shoot in red figures in the demanding conditions. Holloway, who heads to the USA on Monday to chase his dream of a USPGA Tour card, said patience was the key today. "I hit 16 greens today but it was very hard to get close enough to make a putt. The winds were swirling and difficult to judge and get the ball close," Holloway said. "I probably played better yesterday but I played smarter today." He made 11 straight pars before a birdie at the 12th and he showed the reward for his patience with two excellent birdies on the final two holes. Lee moved to a share of the lead midway through his round after he turned at two-under par but mixed two further birdies with two dropped shots. The Rotorua student, who qualified for both the US Amateur and Junior Amateur championships this year, found no fortunes on the greens, lipping out on at least three birdie attempts. Purser, who heads to the Eisenhower Trophy world championship next month, was solid today mixing two bogeys with two birdies to remain in contention. There was plenty of attention focused on Nicholson after her outstanding five-under 67 yesterday that took her to the top of the leaderboard. The 21-year-old, fourth in the British Strokeplay recently, stretched her lead with a birdie at the opening hole. However she dropped four shots in six holes in the middle of her round before bouncing back with a late birdie. Nicholson is only three shots off the lead and well in contention for what would be a remarkable victory. Fellow international Geary, who continued to pepper the flags without success with the flatstick, managed three birdies with dropped shots at the 10th and 11 in his one-under par 71. The other player under par today was former international Riki Kauika (Wanganui) who shot a one-under 71 to jump 34 places to a share of 27th. Another player of interest was professional Mark Brow who was three-over at the turn before making a disastrous triple bogey at the 10th . He bounced back to birdie four of the last seven holes for his two-over par 74. Full scores www.gtnz.org For further information: |
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