Golfers go low in ideal conditions at Tauranga

IN FORM: Luke Toomey shot 63 at Tauranga yesterday to be one shot off the lead at the halfway stage of the Carrus Tauranga Open. Photo: File

When Luke Toomey went to 9-under after the 13th hole in his round at the Carrus Tauranga Open yesterday there was hope among the watching gallery he could break the magical 60 barrier.

It is not like he has not done it before. Last July he set a new course record at Tauranga of 58.

But the reality of how golf can quickly bite back showed as Toomey bogeyed 15 and 17 coming home and signed for a 63 to be 10-under after two rounds - one shot behind leaders David Klein and Harry Bateman.

Toomey is second equal with three-time winner Mark Brown who looks ready to pounce over the weekend after rounds of 64 and 66.

Overnight leader Klein was off early with the sparrows yesterday and followed his opening round of 63 with 66 to be 11-under with Bateman, who shot 64 yesterday.

Toomey says on a course like Tauranga it becomes a short game contest.

"Things went my way over the first 13 holes and then I played equally as good for the last few but it is a game of millimetres and the putts didn't drop," he said.

"I played awesome. I have been playing awesome for probably 12 months to be fair and my last season as an amateur was really good, really consistent. Tee to green has been really good but the difference between me finishing top 10 and winning basically comes down to putting to be honest.

"So those last couple of holes is indicative of how the last couple of months have been - so close but not quite but I think we are pretty close to doing something special."

The best of the other Western Bay golfers was Jared Pender, who is three shots behind the leaders after rounds of 65 and 67, but could so easily have been closer to the lead if not for two dropped shots in his final three holes.

Three-time champion Josh Geary is tied in 11th place with Kieran Muir and Tauranga amateur William Howard on 135.

Omokoroa's Muir shot 65 and was hoping for even lower after he was 7 under heading for the 12th tee but dropped two in the home stretch.

He says birdying his final two holes on Thursday to finish with a par 70 is what gave him the momentum into yesterday's round.

"I stayed patient when I wasn't playing so well and finished with a couple of birdies which put me in a good frame of mind. I went out early and hit my targets today and pitched and putted well.

"The greens are rolling really true which I think helps towards the scoring. I birdied the last hole today so that puts me in high spirits for the weekend."

In the women's division Carmen Lim has a two shot lead after rounds of 71 and 70. Omanu's Alanna Campbell is five back on 146 after shooting 71 with Tauranga's Jodae Ngaheu on 147 after 76 yesterday to follow her first round 71.

Carrus Tauranga Open, after 36 holes

-11 David Klein 63, 66 129
-11 Harry Bateman 65, 64 129
-10 Luke Toomey 67, 63 130
-10 Mark Brown 64, 66 130
-9 Fraser Wilkin 67, 64 131
-9 Daniel Pearce 66, 65 131
-8 Dongwoo Kang 64, 68 132
-8 Jared Pender 65, 67 132
-8 Nick Coxon 68, 64 132
-7 Troy Ropiha 65, 68 133