KEY POINTS:
ZANDVOORT - Hamilton golfer Steve Alker jumped up the leader board at the $2.8 million Dutch Open at Zandvoort on Friday after a second straight four under par 66 left him in a tie for second two strokes off the lead of Englishman David Carter at the half way point.
But it was a disappointing day for countryman Michael Campbell who slipped from a tie for third after a second round one over par 71.
Alker said the Zandvoort course was very similar to courses back in New Zealand such as Paraparaumu Beach (north of Wellington).
"And as soon as I got here on Tuesday I thought this could be fun."
Alker has fond memories of the Paraparaumu course having won the 1988 New Zealand Boys Championship there in a field featuring now fellow professionals David Smail, Phil Tataurangi and Stephen Scahill.
He was also runner up in New Zealand Open on the same course.
"Maybe it might be a good omen for this week."
In contrast, Campbell saw his hopes of ending a new two-year winless drought take a turn for the worse when he posted a triple bogey on his penultimate hole.
Campbell was lying well up the leader board on seven under par after a birdie at the par five seventh hole (his 16th).
Campbell then pulled his 5-iron tee shot left into rough at the par three eighth hole and struggled to a triple bogey six.
"One hole cost me dearly and that's the only story about the round," he said.
"I was playing nicely up until the eighth or my 17th, and I walk off with a triple. These things happen in golf and I'll just have to make up for it early tomorrow."
Alker birdied four of his opening seven holes before ending with 11 straight pars.
Alker's eight under par tally is only the second occasion in his 57 European Tour events that he has began a tournament with two rounds in the 60s.
The first was at the 2005 New Zealand Open at Gulf Harbour where he carded opening round scores of 69 and 65 en route to a share of seventh place which remains his best finish on the European Tour.
Alker is looking for first win in more than five years since clinching the 2002 Louisiana Open on the US secondary Nationwide Tour.
More importantly a high finish will boost his standing on the European Tour Order of Merit from a current 183rd.
"It is close to a year since I last played this well and all I am trying to do is enjoy it more and stay in the moment."
- NZPA
