Golf: Campbell faces missing cut as Tunnicliff claims lead

Brisk winds made a welcome appearance to keep scoring in check on the second day of the New Zealand Open golf championship at Gulf Harbour Country Club north of Auckland.

A healthy breeze blew from the north and was expected to gather more strength later today following the opening round yesterday when benign conditions saw 116 players duck into red figures.

The early second-round leader on 14-under-par 130 was Englishman Miles Tunnicliff, who made the most of his morning start to equal the course record with a nine-under 63.

Tunnicliff, who posted a 67 to trail overnight leader Steven Bowditch of Australia, by three shots yesterday, birdied the last two holes to edge ahead of compatriot Oliver Wilson, who shot 65 to be on 131.

Tunnicliff's round featured an eagle three, eight birdies and a lone bogey.

Wilson posted a seven-under 65, featuring seven birdies and non bogeys.

The next best was Australian Simon Nash on 132 following rounds of 65 and 67.

South African Martin Maritz followed his 66 from yesterday with 70 today to be on 136.

Australian Greg Chalmers shot 66 to be on 137, one ahead of fellow countryman Peter O'Malley, who had a 70.

Swede Mattias Eliasson and England's Steve Webster both shot 69 to sit on five-under 139, while one stroke behind them were Australians James Nitties and Craig Jones.

Jones shot 70, one better than his compatriot, who shelled two strokes coming home.

Another Australian Terry Pilkadaris was in the clubhouse on 142 after posting successive 71s but did not look to have done enough to make the second-round cut.

The cut was expected to be made at three or four-under.

New Zealand's Michael Campbell was set to leave early for home after starting this morning on one-over for the tournament.

He worked very hard to get to three-under for the event leaving the sixth hole, his 15th after starting at No 10, before he put his tee shot in the water to the right on the next.

He walked away with a double bogey six to effectively end any hopes he had of sticking around for the weekend.

Campbell finished with a two-under 70 to be at 143 for the championship.

- NZPA