Golf: Tataurangi eliminated in second round

The wild vagaries of golf were driven home to New Zealand's Phil Tataurangi at the world matchplay championships in California today.

A day after eliminating South African Ernie Els, Tataurangi was himself knocked out of the event by Australian Peter Lonard.

Lonard, seeded 31st, triumphed 5 and 4 over Tataurangi, seeded 63rd, in the second round.

Lonard was always in control over Tataurangi, who yesterday beat world No 2 Els after needing two extra holes to see off the South African.

He couldn't repeat those heroics today, though, with Lonard being 2 up after two holes and 4 up after six on the way to ending the contest on the 14th green.

Another New Zealander, Michael Campbell, lost his first-round match yesterday to American Jeff Sluman.

- NZPA