Golf: NZ pair in World Cup hunt

Mike Hendry. Photo / NZ Herald

New Zealand are right in the mix at the World Cup of Golf Asian qualifying tournament in Malaysia.

The pairing of Mike Hendry and Gareth Paddison ended the first day fourballs at Kuala Lumpur yesterday in third place.

The top three countries after four rounds of competition will advance to the 28-nation World Cup itself in China on November 24-27.

Hendry and Paddison combined for an opening effort of six-under-par 65 at Seri Selangor Golf Club, leaving them two shots behind Singapore and one behind Malaysia.

Their round contained successive eagles, at the fifth and sixth holes and made the turn in five-under-par 31.

But the scoring faded on the inward journey as they played the final nine holes in one-under.

"Gareth played very well and I kind of hanged in there,'' said Hendry, who made eagle at the fifth after hitting a nine iron from 135m to less than 1m of the hole.

"The front nine was probably the key for us. Neither of us played outstanding golf but Gareth definitely played better golf than me.

"Overall we combined well and that's what you are supposed to do in this format. We have to step up in tomorrow's (foursomes) format.''

Sixteen two-man teams are contesting the qualifying event.

Scores:
63 - Singapore
64 - Malaysia
65 - New Zealand (Mike Hendry, Gareth Paddison)
66 - Burma
67 - India
68 - Taiwan, Pakistan
70 - Sri Lanka, Philippines, Korea
73 - Hong Kong, Indonesia
74 - Senegal
76 - Vietnam
77 - Ghana
78 - Brunei

- NZPA