McDonald misses halfway cut at NZ PGA Championship

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

GOLF

GISBORNE golfer Tessa McDonald’s first experience of the New Zealand PGA Championship came to a premature end yesterday.

McDonald carded a second consecutive 7-over 79 for a 14-over total of 158 and missed the halfway cut of the tournament being held on the Te Puke course.

She had nines of 39, 40 and, as she did in the first round, failed to make a single birdie.

McDonald was also a member of the Hawke’s Bay side competing in the Rohe Trophy regional teams competition as part of the event.

The other members are Pieter Zwart and Kerry Mountcastle, who coincidentally share the men’s course record (8-under 64) at McDonald’s home course Poverty Bay, and Mako Thompson.

Zwart shot 70 to be tied for 13th on 5-under, Mountcastle 70 to be tied for 24th on 3-under and Thompson 72, which put him at 1-over — one shot inside the cut.

Teams count their two best scores each round and Hawke’s Bay headed into today’s play 10th-equal on 8-under.

World No.178 Ryan Fox shot 8-under 64 yesterday to lead the tournament on 12-under, one shot ahead of Tae Koh.