KEY POINTS:
Climate change impacted on the New Zealand PGA Championship today when the $861,000 co-sanctioned golf event was placed in a holding pattern courtesy of the unpredictable weather in Christchurch.
The second-round cut remains unresolved, with half of the 156-strong field having to return early tomorrow to complete their
rounds after play was halted at 5.50pm due to surface water on the greens at Clearwater.
That followed an 80-minute suspension of play at lunchtime after persistent morning rain left the greens unplayable.
The day ended prematurely with four players sharing the lead at seven-under-par 137, with American Nationwide Tour rookie Michael Letzig safely in the clubhouse after shooting a four-under 68.
Sharing that number but set to resume at 8am tomorrow are first-round leader Ryan Howison, of the United States, who has eight holes to play, Australian Peter Senior, who will resume on the 14th, and American Chez Reavie, who is two-under the card for the round with five holes to play.
Another American Sal Spallone is on six-under for the championship and three-under for his round leaving the 13th, while New Zealand's Phil Tataurangi shot 68 and Australian James Nitties 70 to be at five-under 139 in a share of sixth place.
Reavie said he had no argument against the decision to suspend play for a second time.
"It was coming down hard for the last 45 minutes and things were starting to get really flooded," said Reavie, who has all night to contemplate an eight-foot putt for birdie which awaits him on the par-five fifth.
He had played his approach with an eight iron out of casual water on the fairway.
"I got to the green and the entirely green was under water."
Tomorrow's projected cut for the top 60 plus ties is at plus one.
Today's autumnal conditions followed the balmy weather of the first round despite a southerly front being forecast to hit the city.
It never arrived, the absence of wind meaning a low blanket of cloud cloaked the 6513m layout from dawn to dusk.
Tataurangi's round of 68 included 24 and 28-foot birdie putts on his closing two holes, taking his tally for the day with the short stick to a highly respectable 26.
That represented an improvement of five strokes on the greens compared to the first round, with Tataurangi saying that owed much to a better feel.
"I didn't have the right pace yesterday and today for the most part I had the right pace and the right line on a couple of them," he said.
"The water meant the greens were slower today but I just had a better feel and stayed instinctive."
Letzig matched Tataurangi's effort despite bogeying two of his opening four holes.
The Hooter Tour graduate, 26, who tied for 26th at the Jacob's Creek Open in Adelaide last week, said he prided himself on his consistency and was pleased with how he followed up his opening round of 69.
"I hit some good shots and didn't have to scramble for pars in the middle of the round."
Having started his round on the 10th, he was on the third tee shortly before noon when players were ushered off the course for the first time.
He returned to hit the fairway then guide an eight iron to within two feet on the 334m par-four hole for one of six birdies which studded his card.
He then got up and down from sand traps on both of his closing two holes to save par and keep himself very much to the fore.
Among those whose fate has already been sealed are New Zealand's Michael Long, who tumbled out of contention after shooting 78 to be on four-over, the same as Eddie Lee, who posted his second successive 74 today.
Steven Alker has a nervous wait, sitting on even par 144 after managing a 70, while work remains ahead for Tim Wilkinson, on minus three with five to play, Brad Iles, on three-under with seven remaining, David Smail, on minus two with seven to play, and Mahal Pearce, on minus two with 10 to play.
Wrist injuries suffered this morning on the course saw the withdrawal of two Australians, Steven Bowditch, the runner-up here two years ago, and Lee McKechnie.
- NZPA
