New Zealand golfers slipped back after two rounds of the Espirito Santo women's world team championship in Adelaide yesterday.
Hoping to make progress on the par-73 East course at Grange Golf Club, they managed a seven-over 153 to finish in a share of 14th place on 10-over.
They
started strongly, jumping to third place midway through the second round, but had an indifferent second nine holes, with lefthander Cathryn Bristow shooting a three-over 76 and Natasha Krishna and Dana Kim both firing 77.
Sweden continued to run away from the record 54-team field, to finish on 15-under. They followed their outstanding nine-under par opening round with a superb six-under par effort on the tougher West course yesterday.
They are eight shots clear of Spain who shot a superb eight-under par effort on the East course.
Defending champions South Africa were three-under today on the East course to move to even-par for the tournament in third place, two shots ahead of the Netherlands with Japan fifth on three-over.
"The girls are naturally a bit disappointed today," said New Zealand Golf high performance manager David Graham.
"They had it going early but played a few tired shots late in the round. It is not as if they are playing badly, but did not take advantage of some good scoring opportunities and paid the price for some mistakes late in the round.
"We are back on the East course tomorrow and they are very determined to climb up the table."
Bristow was two-under after eight holes but dropped five shots in her remaining 10 holes for her 76.
Kim also moved to red figures, 1-under after 10 holes with three bogeys and a double bogey in her final eight holes.
Krishna was three-over after five holes with an eagle and a birdie mixed with a bogey and double bogey in her 77.
- NZPA
