Golf: Aussies advance relentlessly up leaderboard

By DAVID LEGGAT

WELLINGTON - Someone should rewrite that old, too-often-heard refrain from across the ditch - Advance Australia Fair would ring better as Advance Australia Again at the halfway point of the New Zealand Open golf championship.

When the cut was made at 1-over 143 last night, the leaderboard was dominated by Australians, who occupied 17 of the top 21 places - and the Paraparaumu Beach course record held by New Zealand's favourite golfing son Sir Bob Charles and Englishman Maurice Bembridge had been equalled.

Coming off a red-letter 1999 sporting year, the Australian golfers seemed determined to make it business as usual yesterday.

New South Wales golfer Paul Gow took pride of place with a withering 62 for a score of 133 to take a one-shot lead into the third round. Gow peeled off a stunning 10 birdies in 14 holes - including six on the final nine.

New Zealand's interest in the Crown Lager-sponsored Open today does have some muscle, however.

The two top professionals, Michael Campbell and Greg Turner, are right in the frame. So is Rhys Bishop, professional at the Premier International driving range in Takapuna, adding a touch of the romantic, while new USPGA Tour player Craig Perks is nearby.

Campbell backed up his 2-under 69 on Thursday with a 67 yesterday for a share of fourth; Turner - playing without so much as a twinge after his injury scare on Thursday - shot a remarkable 5-under 66; Bishop had a 69 to be three off the lead; while Perks' eagle at the 18th for 4-under capped a steady day.

From the time he sank a 15-footer early on, Gow, who has made 21 successive cuts on the Tour, said "the hole was like a bucket."

He was not aware of the proximity of Charles' record until he made a toilet stop before playing the 18th.

"I was coming back over the ropes and this old guy told me he was here when Bob shot his course record and he'd like to see me do it too.

"I nearly stuffed it up on him," he said, referring to the tricky five-foot putt he made to clinch his 62.

Shane Tait holds second place by virtue of a sparkling 5-under 66 yesterday - four birdies in his last nine holes - from fellow Queenslander David Podlich, one shot back, while eight players are on his heels at 6-under.

Tait, who is 20th on the Order of Merit, has yet to win on the Australasian Tour.

But he finished second to Greg Turner at the Players Championship in Melbourne late last year in windy conditions.

That point could be significant if Paraparaumu's breezy inclinations come to the fore over the weekend.

Turner hit 20 practice balls after having treatment to his left arm in the morning. The physiotherapist used what Turner called "a shotgun thing" on the arm.

"It's always difficult to play when you're expecting the worst," he said. "I wasn't thinking swing things, but as the round went on I became more and more confident."

Bishop, No 1 on New Zealand's pro-am circuit, has kept a low-key philosophy through the first two days.

"I've made a conscious effort that I'm going to have fun. I've got a mate caddying and the family are down."

And it is working.

And to round things off as the sun was setting, Charles rolled back the years to sink an eagle putt on the 18th, producing the biggest roar of the day.