Weather keeping golfers honest at Open

Atrocious weather conditions were keeping everyone honest in the opening round of the New Zealand Open golf championship at Gulf Harbour today.

The coastal course on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula was not the place to be as gusting northerly winds and cold rain swept the exposed venue to keep scoring on the high side.

Midway through the round the clubhouse lead was shared by Australians Kim Felton and Jarrod Moseley on three-under-par 68.

They were one ahead of New Zealander Michael Long, England's Lee James and Australian Marcus Fraser.

There were nine scores of 80 or worse, including New Zealand's Craig Perks, who struggled off the tee as his long trough in form continued. He pieced together a sickly 84.

New Zealand's 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell was relieved to open his account and with an even par 71.

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- NZPA