Perhaps New Zealand golfer Gareth Paddison should get angry more often.
The left-hander was enveloped in a red mist as early as the opening hole in his second round at the New Zealand PGA Championship at Clearwater yesterday, and he used it to his advantage en route to a four-under-par
68.
That lifted him to nine-under 135 at the midway point of the US$600,000 ($1.2 million) tournament, good enough to earn him a share of the lead alongside American Josh Teater and Australian Kurt Barnes.
Barnes, the first-round leader, double bogeyed his 17th hole in a round of 71 while Teater matched Paddison by composing rounds of 67 and 68.
Australian veteran Peter O'Malley, who has won twice on this course, shot 67 to be tied for fourth place on 136 with American Steve Friesen, who matched that effort.
Seven players were bunched one shot back in a tie for sixth, including New Zealand's Josh Geary, who produced the day's equal best round of 65, featuring a chip-in at the last for his seventh and birdie.
Geary shares floor space with Americans David Branshaw, Craig Bowden, and Kevin Johnson, plus Australians Michael Sim, Michael Wright and Matthew Griffin.
New Zealand amateur star Danny Lee ensured his presence this weekend when a fine 67 promoted him from 51st equal to 13th equal on 138 with 11 others, among them compatriot Richard Lee, who shot his second successive 69.
In all, seven of 19 New Zealanders survived the cut line of three-under 141, including Brad Shilton, Steve Alker and David Smail, all tied for 25th on 139 after rounds of 69, 70 and 71 respectively.
Among those booking out of their hotels are Mahal Pearce, Phil Tataurangi, Grant Waite and Michael Long.
But the best of the locals was clearly Paddison. After squandering two shots with a double bogey at the last hole yesterday when he posted 67, the last thing Paddison expected this morning was to drop another stroke on his opening hole, the par-five 10th.
But shell one he did, after chopping it up the fairway, leaving the Wellingtonian more than a little annoyed with himself. "Sometimes when I get angry it fires me up," the 28-year-old European Challenge Tour regular said.
"Today after what happened on the 10th I was absolutely seething mad. I was furious with myself."
It certainly sparked Paddison into action, reeling off four birdies by the 10th to steal the lead.
- NZPA
Perhaps New Zealand golfer Gareth Paddison should get angry more often.
The left-hander was enveloped in a red mist as early as the opening hole in his second round at the New Zealand PGA Championship at Clearwater yesterday, and he used it to his advantage en route to a four-under-par
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