Golf: Record round a cut above field

MELBOURNE - Aucklander Richard Lee slipped home almost unnoticed to set a Royal Melbourne course record of 62 in the second round of the Classic tournament in Melbourne yesterday.

The 28-year-old rocketed to third place at seven-under when he came in after a remarkable round which included an eagle and eight birdies. But that was good enough only for sixth at 137.

South African Ernie Els leads the field at 11-under after a 69 yesterday. Second place, three shots back were a rejuvenated former world No 1 Greg Norman, who shot 67 yesterday, fellow Australians Peter O'Malley and Stephen Leaney, and Welshman Mark Pilkington.

Lee's strength was his iron play and a change of putter from his old Titleist Bullseye to an aptly-named Odyssey White Hot.

Australians Roger Mackay (1988) and Ian Baker-Finch (1990) shared the previous record of 63.

Lee shot 75, three over, on Thursday and his sole aim yesterday was to make two or three birdies coming home and to make the cut in the Heineken-sponsored Classic.

"I'm really amazed at what I've done," he said.

He had played well on Thursday, but did not get any putts.

"Today they dropped, they just kept going in; other times you make only 30 per cent of them.

"To shoot 10-under is awesome, incredible."

It could easily have been an astonishing 60 because he missed makeable birdie putts on the last two holes.

A tip on the driving range from a friend of his coach in New Zealand saw him open his stance more in his putting yesterday and it paid off.

A 10m putt from the edge of the green for an eagle three on the par-five second hole helped, as did a 20m putt off the fairway on another hole using a three-wood. The ball hit the pin to set up another birdie.

Lee has experienced tough times in his career, including an occasion when he had to telephone home to get the airfare back to New Zealand.

He also had two years off with glandular fever.

Lee dismissed a suggestion he was the greatest player to have graced Royal Melbourne. After all, he had missed both cuts on the Australasian PGA Tour this year.

"It may be the best round, but I'm not the best player to play here."

He never wanted to be a superstar.

"Guys like Tiger Woods, they haven't got a great life. Maybe it's the New Zealand attitude."

Lee was happy cruising along yesterday, continually seeking the shade of the trees on the course to keep the heat off his fair skin.

Although his playing partner, South African Trevor Immelman, was equal leader at one stage, they didn't even rate a scoreboard. Few spectators appreciated that history was unfolding.

However, his career has turned around and he is exempt for the next two seasons after his tie for seventh at the Australian PGA and his tie for 13th at the Australian Open late last year.

He also holds another course record, 61 set at the Vanuatu Open.

Early last year he had another hot streak at the Tour Championship at Concord in Sydney where he shot a 64. He is 17th on the Australian order of merit.

Of the other New Zealanders, David Smail and Michael Campbell are equal 17th at four under, while another Lee, Eddie, did the opposite of Richard yesterday by shooting a second-round 75, to be two under.