Dominic Barson, a club professional from Nelson, takes a two-shot lead into the third round of the $40,000 AMP Open at Titirangi today.
Barson, playing in a brisk wind yesterday morning, had a four-under 66 to go with his opening round of 70.
Second place is shared by
Christchurch professional Tony Christie and 18-year-old Auckland amateur Ben Wallace, one clear of the other overnight leader Mathew Holten, another Christchurch professional.
The 33-year-old Barson included an 24m birdie putt on the 10th in a roller-coaster round that included seven birdies and three bogeys and avoided the disastrous double-bogey, bogey on 15 and 16 that spoiled his opening round.
He competes rarely these days after taking a job at the Greenacres Club four years ago, but he is a former winner of the Tahiti Open.
"I made a host of long puts today, ones I wouldn't normally make, including an 80-footer for birdie on the 10th," Barson said. "I don't expect to compete with the touring pros these days but this tournament and the tour gives me that chance to measure myself in top company over four days."
Wallace belied his youth with a very steady round of 71, while Christie had an eagle on the fifth on his way to a 68.
The only other second round score under was a 69 by Hamilton professional Mark Purser, who won the Tauranga tournament earlier in the year. He is on 141 in equal seventh place.
Three pros, who head off on Monday to try to qualify for the USPGA tour, are within striking distance of the lead - Aussie James Beston is equal fifth and Kiwis Mike Hendry and Josh Carmichael are one and two shots further back.
The second amateur in the field is Kevin Smith from Tauranga, who had a 71 yesterday for a share of fifth. Top woman is Titirangi's Tania Tare, who had a second round of 73 and made the cut that came at 158.
