Golf: Wild weather par for the course

Auckland professional Brad Shilton considers his shot at the Belmont Course yesterday. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

The good-quality field was back and so was the wild weather for the opening round day of the Pin High Craigs Investment Partners Wanganui Pro-Am yesterday.

Last year's edition, won by Wanganui-raised professional Nick Gillespie in a tight play-off with New Plymouth's Grant Moorhead, was played in blustery wind, and this year had that with a series of cloud bursts throughout the late morning and afternoon.

At the completion of the first 18 holes, the overnight leader was Waikato's Mark Purfer, who shot a 1-under par 69.

Rotorua's French-born golfer Victor Janin, who qualified for the New Zealand PGA Tour this year, sits two shots back on 71.

Having shot a round of 72, Gillespie was in a three-way tie for third place with Wellington's Martin Pettigrew and Auckland's Richard Lee.

NZ PGA president Geoff Smart said Purfer's round was good under the conditions.

"Most of the players were surprised anyone went under par."

They were preparing for worse this morning with more winds expected and steady rain around midday.

Play was to resume at 9.30am, with a winner likely to be found just over five hours later.

The tournament has $20,000 in prizemoney.