PALMERSTON NORTH - Western Australian Michael Sim had the round of his life as he stormed to the lead in the New Zealand amateur golf championships at Hokowhitu here yesterday.
Sim, 20, of Perth club Joondalup, equalled the course record of nine-under-par 63 and finished his round with a spectacular
eagle two.
At 14-under and after an opening round of 67, he had a five-shot lead over Victorian Adam Porker and New South Welshman Mitchell Brown.
Sims' 63 equalled Rotorua player Mark Smith's course record set in the 2002 Lawnmaster Classic.
Sims didn't overdose with testosterone and smash a driver on his last hole, the ninth, as most players did.
Instead he played cautiously to the centre of the fairway with a two-iron, slotted the ball into the green with a pitching wedge and spun it back about nine feet into the hole for eagle.
That saw earn a significant lead on the field of 176, of which 99 missed the cut of five-over-par. Just 77 made the cut.
After two days Sims hadn't posted a single bogey. He couldn't believe he would go from one-under after eight holes and have seven birdies and an eagle.
"It came out of nowhere," Sim said.
"This is my best ever round. I've had 64 twice."
He also shot 29 for nine holes for the first time.
"And yet I felt like I hit the ball better yesterday. But today I got my putter going."
Four Australians were in the top six and seven in the top 20.
The New Zealand charge came from international Bradley Iles, back to his best and playing with superb control with a six-under 66, tied for fourth with Queenslander Kurt Carlson and Aucklander Travis O'Connell.
Iles' putter ran hot yesterday as he slotted one from 15 feet on the 18th for his fourth birdie of the round.
He also nailed an eagle on the par-five fifth but three-putted from short range on the notorious 10th green for a double bogey.
"I was stoked because I just wanted to be in contention," Iles said.
"I played awesome golf. It was my ball-striking; I was driving it pretty well."
Most of the leading New Zealand players survived for the last two rounds of strokeplay.
One who didn't was Hamilton's Mark Purser, who reached the Australian amateur quarterfinals last month.
Square at the turn, he dropped an astonishing nine shots coming home and exited following an 81.
- NZPA
Golf: Australians rule at NZ Amateur
PALMERSTON NORTH - Western Australian Michael Sim had the round of his life as he stormed to the lead in the New Zealand amateur golf championships at Hokowhitu here yesterday.
Sim, 20, of Perth club Joondalup, equalled the course record of nine-under-par 63 and finished his round with a spectacular
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
