Golf: Classy Fowler heads young talent

European Tour veteran Peter Fowler fired a second successive five-under-par 65 to grab sole ownership of the lead at the midway stage of the Tauranga Open golf tournament yesterday.

The Auckland-based Australian bagged six birdies and his first bogey of the tournament to clear out from his younger rivals in his debut on the Charles Tour, established to provide elite competition for professionals and amateurs, male and female.

He has a three-shot lead over hometown favourite and fellow professional Jared Pender, who shot 66 yesterday for a two-round card of seven-under 133.

Three players share third place on 134, all of them young professionals - Hawkes Bay's Blair Shaw, Hamish Robertson of Taihape, and Taupo's Troy Ropiha.

Five players share sixth place one stroke further back, including professionals Michael Hendry of North Harbour, Andrew Green of Wellington, Mahal Pearce of Dunedin, and Aucklander Dominic Barson, who posted yesterday's lowest round of 64.

The leading amateur is North Harbour's Simon Brownlee, also on 135 after a 67 yesterday.

Fowler was again immaculate around the greens with two birdies going out and mixing four birdies with a single bogey coming home.

"I am really happy the way I have putted the last two days," he said.

"It's something that has not worked very well for the last six months to a year, so I am glad my putting touch is back in shape.

"I haven't been in the lead of anything for a long while so I am looking forward to that. I have to keep going and hopefully make plenty more birdies."

Pender and Hendry pushed each other up the leaderboard, with Tauranga-based Pender unable to take advantage of his final four holes when he dropped one shot and settled for a par on the receptive par-five sixth.

Pender said he drew motivation from playing with Hendry.

"We got some strength off each other. When one of us made birdie it pushed the other one," Pender said. "I didn't finish as I wanted but overall I am pretty happy with my play and the position I'm in."

Shaw, the joint overnight leader with Fowler, remained in touch, as did Ropiha, while Robertson impressed with the best of the morning rounds with a 65. Robertson fired seven birdies with a double bogey at the 17th proving costly.

A number of players made moves but some costly mistakes in the closing holes dented their chances, including Grant Moorhead, who shot 67 but dropped two slots in the last four holes, and Ropiha, who bogeyed his last holes and Hendry, who made a double at his penultimate hole.

New Zealand amateur champion Cecilia Cho produced a stunning round of four-under 67, despite playing near the back of the field in the rain and dim light, to take a four-shot lead in the women's event.

Cho fired five birdies and a solitary bogey in a superb performance to again show her outstanding potential.

Twelve-year-old Lydia Ko is second on one-under 143 after shooting 71 with Titirangi's Tania Tare another three shots back going into their final round tomorrow.

Sixty-one men made the cut at five-over for their final 36 holes today and tomorrow, including Auckland's Mark Speedy who fired a 67, including successive eagles at the par-four 10th and 11th holes.

- NZPA