There’s nothing quite like a blustery day on a golf course to test one’s mental game.
Jordie Barrett got exactly that on the second day of the Taranaki Open on New Zealand Golf’s Charles Tour.
Not named for Saturday night’s clash with Moana Pasifika, the Hurricanes and AllBlacks midfielder Barrett took the opportunity for some active rest back home in Taranaki, competing in a strong field at New Plymouth Golf Course.
The 29-year-old, who plays off a 0.8 handicap, got a testing reintroduction to the New Zealand tour as conditions made life tough at the coastal course for the second round today.
After a four-over-par first round, Barrett was among the many golfers to see their scores blow out today. He finished his round with a 16-over 88.
“You find a bit of respect for these golfers who hack it every week. It was a great challenge. I actually enjoyed it, believe it or not,” Barrett said.
“Yesterday I had four-over. Two doubles and felt like I hit it pretty good and the forecast probably played into that a little bit. But then today, I made quad bogey on two and then mentally going into a bit of a spiral. It’s a strong field and, yeah, golf beat me today.”
This week’s tournament in Taranaki was Barrett’s second Charles Tour appearance, after he played in the 2024 New Zealand Stroke Play Championship, where he missed the cut.
Jordie Barrett eyes up a putt in the 2026 Taranaki Open on the Charles Tour. Photo / Andrew Jackson, BW Media
He would have backed himself to make the cut after a first-round 76 in Taranaki, however, he ended up finishing 20-over through two rounds and fell 29 spots down the leaderboard into a tie for 79th and missing the 10-over cut line.
While Barrett has played plenty of golf in his time, with an Instagram account and YouTube channel dedicated to the sport, he said taking a course on in such a tournament was a different experience.
“I mean, playing with your mates or even when I film my own stuff for YouTube, you’re a lot more relaxed. I’ve spent a lot of time relaxed out here this week, but it’s still different; the ball’s got to go in the cup and there’s a bit more on the line.
“It’s very challenging, but it’s great. That’s why I try and play these events and hopefully it can improve my rugby game. It’s cool. Just being off the back tees and playing it in these tournament conditions like all the pros, it gives you a good understanding of what golf’s really like.”
Jake Meenhorst and Mark Brown led the field at five-under through two rounds. They held a two-shot lead over Cameron Harlock, with Dominic Barson one shot further back.
