Golf: Parry sounds a warning

Craig Parry of Australia tees off during day two. Photo / Getty Images

Australian golf veteran Craig Parry let his New Zealand Open rivals know the heat isn't on him heading in to the weekend.

The 45-year-old, who won the Open in 2002 at Paraparaumu, is five-under the card in a three-way tie for the lead, at Clearwater in Christchurch after two rounds.

Fellow Australian Brad Kennedy and Kiwi Josh Geary are the other two with a share of first place ahead of moving day.

Parry though, with more than 20 international tournament victories to his name, reminded the young bucks today (Fri) of what they had coming.

"The only advantage I've got over the other guys and, a lot of the other guys, is I've already won the New Zealand Open. So the pressure's on them versus me," the right-hander said.

"I haven't really played a lot this year. So my expectations probably aren't as great as what everyone else's is. I'm just happy to be playing well.

"It's nice to actually go out and score well and hopefully I'm not going to be too far away from the lead at the end of tonight (fri) and go out and play 36 holes on the weekend."

Parry's late charge to finish his round with three birdies rocketed him up the leaderboard after he opened with a two-under 70 on Thursday.

"So it was nice to finish, birdie, birdie, birdie; because I actually played really well the first two days."

After mixed results during the past few weeks, Parry said it was just great to be back on the greens.

"In general I've played really well. The only hole that's given me any grief at the moment is the ninth hole. I've hit two poor shots off the ninth hole. But otherwise, I've played really well."

Nationwide Tour pro Geary is the leading Kiwi in the field, after he carded a four-under par 68.

In another tricky day on course, the wind picked up as the day progressed and the players still found it challenging as only 13 competitors closed day two under par.

Australian Jake Higginbottom set the early pace with a sharp four-under 68 to hold a share of fourth place at the end of the day.

The 18-year-old, who is at Clearwater for the first time in his career, was pleased with his round after he struck an even-par 72 on day one.

"I putted well today. I hit it roughly the same but holed a few more putts," he said.

"Conditions were perfect for scoring. You couldn't get much better, especially compared to yesterday where it was pretty tough. It was good out there. You could play your normal shots as opposed to playing low shots to control it a bit better. I could definitely read the greens better today, so that was good."

Brad McIntosh (Australia) shot the low round of the day, with a six-under 66, which was a complete turn around in form after he fired a 78 on day one.

Michael Campbell capped a disappointing tournament as the 2005 US Open champion carded a seven-over 79 to finish the tournament 12 over and well off the pace.

A string of Kiwis made the cut, which was six-over, including Phil Tataurangi, amateur Ryan Fox and Marcus Wheelhouse and they will take their place among the 72 players who will contest the weekend.

Day one sensation Jim Cusdin dropped off the leaders as the Waikato professional shot a five-over 77, but he easily made the cut and is at one-over for the tournament.

Doug Holloway is the second-best placed Kiwi at four-under, while the consistent Steve Alker and Mahal Pearce are three shots back at one-under in a tie for 11th.

Former champion Pearce, who won at Middlemore in 2003, finished his round with a frustrating double bogey on the 18th hole, after the Otago pro had threatened to join the leaders with three early birdies.