Golf: Texan sizzles to take classic lead

10.00pm

A unheralded American today showed he has both the name and the game to make a significant splash in the deep pond of professional golf.

Ryan Palmer, a virtual unknown outside his home state of Texas, evoked memories of a legend by catapulting himself to the top of the leaderboard on a day of low scoring in the second round of the $1.2 million Clearwater Classic at Christchurch.

Although he shares nothing more than a surname and occupation with his illustrious compatriot Arnold Palmer, Ryan proved he can wield a club like a magician to post a Clearwater Resort course record nine-under-par 63.

He sliced three shots off the previous record, jointly held by five players, and takes a four-stroke lead into the weekend in the Nationwide Tour event.

Palmer reached the halfway stage of the Australasian and US PGA Tour co-sanctioned tournament with a two-round card of 12-under 132, four ahead of defending champion Peter O'Malley, of Australia, and Jeff Gove, of the United States.

O'Malley was another to fully appreciate yesterday's idyllic conditions, pocketing eight birdies with his new "branding iron" putter, recently legalised by the lawmakers, to shoot 64 and leave himself well-positioned to pounce today.

Gove signed for a second successive 68 to join O'Malley on 136, two clear of Australia's Andre Stolz, who managed 68 yesterday, and two Americans, Rick Price (67) and Sonny Skinner (70).

In a field top-heavy with Americans and Australians, local promoters have their fingers crossed for at least one New Zealander to challenge for attention before the cheques are handed out on Sunday.

That seems a forlorn hope, with just four of 15 New Zealanders making the cut, made at even par 144, and the best-placed of them, amateur Mathew Holten, a small matter of 10 shots behind Palmer.

Among those to miss a pay day were Greg Turner, Grant Moorhead, Michael Long, Eddie Lee and 2001 New Zealand Open champion David Smail, who matched his world ranking of 80th as he stumbled to an eight-over 80.

Smail's two-round card of 153 saw him exit early, while highly regarded left-hander Gareth Paddison scored 73 for a tournament return of 149 to miss the money rounds for the fifth successive event.

"I feel like a salesman who hasn't earned a cent in five weeks," lamented Paddison, 2002 Australasian rookie of the year.

Nationwide Tour rookie Palmer, 26, produced a flawless exhibition to complete the inward nine holes six-under the card after going out in three-under.

"I've shot 63 before but to do it in a Nationwide Tour event in only my second start makes it very special for me. It's been an exciting day," said Palmer, who missed the cut in his maiden tour outing, the Jacob's Creek Open in Adelaide last week.

"It didn't bother me what happened in Adelaide and I was expecting some good things to come out of this week. It has gone a lot better than even I thought it would."

Palmer's credentials are mostly unknown despite his winning three tournaments on the 2002 Tight Lies Tour played in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

His background may be modest but he was not backward in coming forward when stating his intentions for Saturday.

"I know I am capable of shooting 63 and I will come out again tomorrow expecting to do the same thing."

- NZPA