Tauranga golfer Josh Geary led something of a revival for New Zealand on the second day of the Eisenhower Trophy world teams championship in Puerto Rico.
Geary fired a three-under par 69 as New Zealand jumped 11 spots to a share of 33rd place at six-over par midway through the championship
at the Rio Marr Country Club.
The in-form Geary, who shares 14th place for individuals, fired five birdies and two bogies in his outstanding round on the Ocean course. Wanganui's Riki Kauika shot a three-over 75 and Auckland's Kevin Chun a 77, which was the discarded score.
Although the Kiwis managed to move up the ladder they dropped further behind a rampant United States team, who stretched their lead with a remarkable display.
They moved to 20-under par to be eight shots clear of Spain, with a further three shots back to Switzerland, Wales and Sweden. The Americans were led by the brilliant Ryan Moore, who followed his opening seven-under 65 with a five-under 67 to lead the individual event by four shots from Switzerland's Nicolas Sulzer.
The New Zealanders were in a position to finish in red figures but all three dropped shots on the final hole. Geary was in excellent touch with three birdies on the outward nine, mixing two birdies and two bogies coming home. He was four-under playing the last and had a 3m uphill putt for birdie, but missed and three-putted.
"Obviously it was a much improved day. Josh was definitely our rock out there and justifying my decision to send him off last," coach Brian Doyle said.
"Josh hit the ball really well today. He had a really good look at his birdie putt on the last which hit the hole. It could easily have been a 67 but instead it jagged a metre away and he missed the short one.
"Riki started badly again with two double bogies, but to his credit he fought back really well."
- THE HERALD ON SUNDAY
