Golf: Malcolmson cleans up with broomstick

By BOB PEARCE


Stu Malcolmson traded in the life of a touring pro for a coaching career back home in Auckland. But the 31-year-old never lost his game and at The Grange yesterday he reeled off a second round of six-under 64 to put himself into contention for the Open.

Level par overnight, he bogeyed his first hole, but from then on his putter ran hot.

There was a 10-metre downhill snake on the 14th hole and two others from more than eight metres.

Father Sam, a former All White, acted as caddie as his son worked magic with his broomstick putter on the very true greens.

"I used to be a good putter, but then I lost it and went to the broomstick," Malcolmson said. "Everybody laughed, but it certainly works for me."

These days he's lucky if he gets to play a couple of four-round tournaments a year.

But his efforts yesterday were a good advertisement for his day job at the Golf Today range inside Ellerslie Racecourse.

His 64 was bettered by Hawkes Bay player Richard Squire, who started the day at five over and in danger of missing the cut in his first tournament as a professional.

He had seven birdies in a bogey-free 63 to complete 36 holes in two under, comfortably inside the cut.

The 24-year-old, who missed his card at the Australasian tour school this month, opted to turn professional anyway, after a successful amateur career.

"I knew I could shoot a good score and today the putts dropped," he said.