Japan-Australasia Championship: Nick Voke storms up leaderboard at Auckland tournament’s halfway mark

A bogey-free second round helped Nick Voke surge into a tie for third after two rounds of the first major tournament at his home course.

Voke carded a six-under-par 66 on Friday to move to eight-under at the halfway mark of the inaugural ISPS Handa Japan-Australasia Championship at Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club, one shot off the lead.

The lead is shared between Japan’s Kohei Okada and Australian Jay Mackenzie, who sit at nine-under.

“Yesterday was a little slow out of the gates but I played well coming home and then a little bogey-free, six-under today to be at eight-under total. I imagine I’ll be a couple back going into the weekend, but that’s where you want to be, you know, ready to pounce,” Voke told Newstalk ZB’s D’Arcy Waldegrave after his round.

Voke hit 15 of 18 greens in regulation, with a single putt needed on nine of the 18 holes.

The Kiwi said having a tournament in his hometown made a difference.

“I think it’s the first time that’s happened in about 14 years playing a tournament from my own bed,” he said.

“And it’s a little more than that, my caddy’s here this week, he’s cooking. I hate to admit it, but mum’s done a few bits of laundry this week, there are no stressors. We were driving home, Tuesday afternoon after our [practice] round, just thinking I’m in my own car here, this is the route I take to practice most days, it doesn’t feel like a tournament week.

“I don’t mean that in a negative way at all, it just means it feels a bit more casual than most tournaments, quite familiar with things, fewer uncertainties, and seems to be paying dividends.”

Kazuma Kobori was the next best Kiwi in the field, in a tie for ninth at six-under.

Japan-Australasia Championship top five Kiwis in the field

Nick Voke: -8 and tied for third

Kazuma Kobori: -6 and tied for ninth

Kerry Mountcastle: -4 and tied for 22nd

Cameron Harlock, Michael Hendry, Josh Geary and Ryan Xio: -2 and tied for 50th