Golf: Birdie blitz puts Campbell in front

SYDNEY - New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell defied mother nature, scorching home with birdies on his last four holes to lead at the halfway stage of the Australian Open at Royal Sydney here yesterday.

Campbell's phenomenal charge from holes 15 to 18 came on some of the trickiest holes on the course. His seven-under 65 was the equal best of the round despite being played late in the day when others were struggling with fresh winds.

The Wellingtonian, winner of the Johnnie Walker Classic in Taiwan earlier this month, was a shot clear of Australian amateur and playing partner Aaron Baddeley who carded 68 yesterday, largely through progress in the opening holes when conditions were far calmer.

Baddeley was a shot clear of two more New South Welshmen, Brendan Jones and overnight leader Paul Gow, along with Western Australian Nick O'Hern.

New Zealand's Michael Long also put himself in firm contention yesterday with a bright opening setting up his 68. He is in a tie for eighth on six-under 138.

Campbell was one of just two golfers to play bogey-free yesterday. Prior to his birdie streak, he stayed on six-under through the tough middle section of the course. Early in the round he shot birdies on the first, second and seventh holes.

The 30-year-old characteristically downplayed his charging finish.

"The holes were downwind apart from the 17th where I managed to hole a putt of about 35 to 40 feet, so that made things a little easier," Campbell said.

"Actually, my putter went pretty cold towards the middle of the round there but it came pretty hot towards the end."

The strong westerly pushed two Campbell fairway shots into bunkers but he recovered with aplomb both times. Campbell admitted his confident play was a direct result of the Johnnie Walker Classic win in Taiwan a fortnight ago.

"Obviously I'm still riding that wave from two weeks ago. Winning in Taiwan gave me confidence for the rest of my career really, and it showed today.

"I was in control of my game today. Yesterday I was a little scratchy but today was good. Sixty-five in these conditions is a good score obviously."

Campbell continued to marvel at the talent of Baddeley, pointing out that when he was an 18-year-old he was working for Telecom in Wellington, with professional golf a distant dream.

"Aaron is just incredible. He plays every shot with no fear and that's great to see and wonderful for Australian golf."

The pair will play together again today in the last trio on course.

Five of the eight New Zealanders made the cut. The happiest was Aucklander Stephen Gordon, who is playing just his second professional tournament and missed advancing to day three at the Ford Open in Adelaide last week. He shot a one-under 71 to end on even par along with compatriot Stephen Scahill (who had a 74 yesterday). Stuart Thompson's eagle on the opening par-four hole helped him to one-under yesterday.

Paul Devenport, Matthew Lane and Alistair Sidford missed the cut.

Baddeley, 18, led for most of the day. He continued to show up his professional rivals with prodigious driving and the ability to drop long putts.

Long blitzed the front nine with five birdies yesterday but his inward nine were a mixture of bogeys and birdies.

"I'm sort of happy. I'm right up there in position," Long said.

- NZPA