Golf: Fox fires warning shot at tournament rivals

Ryan Fox is hoping his good form continues into the Tauranga Open, which starts today. Photo / Brett Phibbs

New Zealand golf representative Ryan Fox warmed up for the opening event of the Charles Tour in sizzling fashion.

Fox shot a remarkable 12-under 60 on Monday at his home course at Royal Auckland ahead of the Tauranga Open starting today.

The amateur international started ominously when he lost a ball on the first hole for a double bogey six before making an eagle and three birdies to turn at three-under.

He then reeled off a remarkable seven birdies and an eagle on the back nine for a nine-under 26 and a total score of 60.

The 24-year-old is one of the leading amateurs in the Tauranga Open, the first of five tournaments that make up the Charles Tour featuring professionals and amateurs, both male and female.

"After nine holes I thought if I played respectable on the back nine I might be able to get a score out of it," Fox said.

"From there something clicked. Every time I hit a good shot I hit it stiff and every time I hit a bad shot I nailed the putt.

"I have started to put some numbers on the board at least in the last month. I haven't finished a couple of rounds off and a couple of tournaments off the way I would have liked. But it has started to come right.

"Shooting 26 on the back nine at Middlemore I did not think was possible. It gives me some confidence for this week.

"If you keep it in play here and your wedge game is good you can score well. There will be some good scoring this week for sure. I hope I can be among them."

The tournament has drawn a quality field of 50 professionals including Charles Tour winners Mark Purser (Wairakei 2006, Tauranga 2007 and Shirley 2008), Michael Hendry (Tauranga and Taranaki 2009) and Troy Ropiha (Taranaki 2008).

Hendry will defend his Tauranga Open title won after edging out European Tour professional Peter Fowler in a playoff last year, while the field also includes the recent Brian Perry Classic winner Andrew Searle.

Fox, a quarter-finalist in the recent New Zealand amateur and seventh in the Australian strokeplay last month, is a leading contender among the 68-strong amateur field.

It includes fellow New Zealand representatives Ben Campbell, of Masterton, runner-up in the Australian amateur, and Tauranga's Andrew Stewart with Wellington's Peter Spearman-Burn, and Gary-John Hill, of Auckland, who was the leading amateur on last year's Charles Tour.

There are also seven women in the field, led by New Zealand strokeplay champion Caroline Bon, of Northland.

- NZPA