Golf: Newbrook shines in the gloom

Rotorua Golfer Penny Newbrook led New Zealand's revival on the second day of the Espirito Santo world amateur women's teams championship in Puerto Rico.

Newbrook shot a one-under 71 yesterday to be one of only eight players to venture under par on a waterlogged Rio Mar Country Club after rain forced a late start.

United States-based Claire Dury provided the other counting score with a three-over 75 as New Zealand's offering of 146 saw them improve from 22nd to a share of 13th on 10-over 298 at the halfway stage.

Sarah Nicholson of Wellington managed 76 on a day when scores ballooned compared with the first day's offerings.

Canada retained their lead at six-under 282, three clear of Sweden, who were one shot clear of third-placed United States.

Newbrook produced a near-faultless performance, missing only two greens as she registered 17 pars and one birdie, the first time in her career that she had not dropped a shot in her round.

"It was a superb display of ball-striking from Penny," national coach Geoff Smart said.

"Really, she made only one good putt all day, and had some of her good putts dropped, she could have shot very low."

At one stage New Zealand moved on to the leaderboard midway through their round with Newbrook and Nicholson under par and Dury even, but Nicholson and Dury dropped shots late in their rounds in the heavy conditions.


- NZPA