KEY POINTS:
Nelson professional Dominic Barson found a hot putter on a cold day to open a three-shot lead midway through the $40,000 Taranaki Open golf tournament in New Plymouth today.
Barson compiled an even-par 72 in worsening conditions at the Ngamotu Links course for a two-round total of six-under 138 in the Charles Tour event.
He has a three-shot lead over fellow Nelson professional Riki Borell, who birdied the last two holes for a 71 to move to three-under 141.
The leading amateur is Taupo's Troy Ropiha, who birdied four of the last six holes in his 69.
He shares third spot with Christchurch professional Andrew Searle on 142, one shot clear of a trio including North Shore's Gi Beom Guim, 2006 amateur champion Andrew Green, of Wellington, and Melbourne-based professional Mathew Holten.
Taihape-based professional Hamish Robertson is eighth on 144 after a second successive 72 while joint first round leader Daniel Pearce, of Hastings, followed his opening 66 with a 79 to share ninth place with Manawatu professional Andrew Henare.
The leading female is young Rotorua player Chantelle Cassidy on 151 after a solid 73 today. She leads New Zealand representative Caroline Bon, of Whangarei, and Titirangi's Jane Lee by two shots.
New Zealand amateur representative Nick Gillespie enjoyed the biggest reversal of fortunes.
The Hastings player, who fired a 81 in the first round, had the low round today of 68.
Barson, who led the Titirangi Open after two rounds last year, said he was happy to be the frontrunner.
" I enjoy being in front. I would rather be chased than having to chase," he said.
Barson said he found conditions not as brutal today although the weather turned to cold rain mid-afternoon.
He missed only three greens but made two great birdie putts on the seventh and 18th and also landed some good saving putts.
" We had the tougher back nine first in the tougher conditions but overall I felt it was not quite as hard today.
"Having said that I did not hit the ball quite as well and the putter certainly came to my aid."
While he only missed three greens, Barson managed two birdies with two dropped shots.
The cut for the top 60 players was at 14-over 158, evidence of the demanding test of the Ngamotu Links when the winds blow.
- NZPA
