Golf: Lee determined to beat fourth-round jinx

Richard Lee, joint leader in the 72-hole Muriwai Open. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Auckland professional Richard Lee hopes to end a run of poor finishes when he tees off today as joint leader in the 72-hole Muriwai Open.

The 37-year-old shot a five-under 67 in the second round for a 36-hole total of 135, nine under, to share the lead with North Harbour pro Michael Hendry and New Plymouth amateur Steven Heyes, who added 68s to the 67s they shot in the first round of the Charles Tour event.

One shot back are Hawkes Bay amateur Pieter Zwart and Australian-based Northlander Dale Clarke.

Lee, originally from the Pupuke Club on the North Shore, came to prominence as a teenager in 1992 when he beat Michael Campbell in the final of the New Zealand amateur championship at Dunedin. He hit the headlines again when he recorded a 59 in the second round of the Tauranga leg of the Charles Tour two weeks ago. He finished that tournament down the field after a poor finish, something he is aiming to eliminate.

"Overseas I've been having three good rounds and then a last round that's mediocre- to-bad. It makes a big difference in the money. At Tauranga I'd been trying three different drivers. I just got quicker and started hooking.

"Today I played really solid golf with six birdies. On the fourth I missed the green and then a shortish putt for the only bogey."

Lee plays on the Japanese and OneAsia tours and heads back to Japan next Tuesday for two mini-tour events.

Hendry, who was second at Tauranga, was bogey-free in his second round yesterday and disappointed not to score better as the morning players had the better of another fine day.

"I hit the ball as well as I can remember," he said. "But my putter was a bit cold today. I'm hitting the putts well but the line doesn't seem to be quite right. The good thing is I know I can play better. I consider myself a pretty good wind player so I won't mind if it blows a bit."

The tall teenager Heyes, who is enjoying a golfing gap year after New Plymouth Boys' High, came in at the tail of the field after scoring five birdies and only one dropped shot on the ninth. He has his eye on an American university scholarship.

Of the other overnight leaders Ryan Fox slipped to a 74, Peter Spearman-Burn shot 73, Mahal Pearce had par 72 and Scott Manyweathers 80. Cecilia Cho on 140 heads the women's field who will end their 54-hole contest today.