KEY POINTS:
Phil Tataurangi made home advantage really count as the New Zealand PGA tournament squelched to a premature halt at Clearwater yesterday.
When the persistent rain that rendered some of the greens unplayable forced an early end to play on the second day, half the field had yet to
finish the second round. American Michael Letzig was the clubhouse leader, adding a 68 to his first-round 69 for a seven-under-par total of 137.
Level with him were two other Americans - overnight leader Ryan Howison and 25-year-old Arizonan Chez Reavie - and veteran Aussie Peter Senior. Howison had played 10 holes and Reavie and Senior 13. The second round will resume today at 8am with the third round to follow.
Tataurangi prospered on the soggy morning, shooting a four-under 68 for a total of 139 and a share of sixth place. He had five holes to complete and was not far from the apartment he is using when the first 90-minute suspension of play came at 11.40am.
"I was able to go home and change and have something to eat," he said. The break seemed to help as he holed long birdie putts on his last two holes, and had time for a wave to wife Melanie and children Kahurangi and Talia, watching from the balcony.
Tataurangi relishes the chance to play his home tournaments where he reckons "Kiwi tucker" and the support of so many people lift his game. He needed only 26 putts yesterday compared with 31 in his opening 71.
Letzig, twice a winner on the Hooters tour in the US, is a rookie on the Nationwide tour and profited from some impressive play out of the wet bunkers to cement his 68 yesterday.
Howison birdied his first hole to go to eight under but dropped back to seven under just before the final suspension came at 5.50pm. Senior birdied the seventh to join the leading bunch.
Reavie will return this morning to an eight-foot birdie putt on the fifth green that would give him the outright lead. Is the 25-year-old worried?
"I'm tired. I'll sleep like a baby," he said. "I tend to focus more in these conditions. I wish I could be as focused all the time."
With Tataurangi, left-hander Tim Wilkinson was the big Kiwi mover. He was three under for the round and the tournament after 13 holes. Brad Iles has played two holes less and remains at three under.
David Smail and Mahal Pearce were both under par for their rounds with holes to play and, at two under for the tournament, should make the cut, which could be at one over par.
North Harbour professional Michael Hendry, a former New Zealand under-19 cricket captain, was making the most of a late entry to the tournament after finishing fifth on the New Zealand order of merit. He was one under par for his round and level par for the tournament when play was suspended.
Among those set to miss the cut are New Zealand Nationwide tour regular Michael Long, whose second-round 78 included a double-bogey on the 13th, Aussie David Lutterus, runner-up in Adelaide last week, and two Canterbury favourites, Eddie Lee and Tony Christie.
The forecast is for a return to better weather over the next two days with only a chance of showers but with north-easterlies up to 20 knots.
Clearwater is renowned for its wind and the players have so far escaped lightly. The narrowing of some of the fairways and the maturing of the rough have put a premium on accuracy and ensured that the big hitters respect its 6513m.
