Golf: Wind changes prove a little tricky

Seasoned Australian Peter Senior predicted the cut might be as low as six-under if Gulf Harbour delivered more benevolent weather for today's second round of the New Zealand Golf Open.

But Senior also got a taste of how the course can change as his group played the last few holes as the afternoon breeze freshened.

"There was nothing disastrous, but when that wind came up it certainly had an effect on the putting.

"We were leaving them four feet short or they were going four feet past. Some of the greens have different speeds and that is where you can get tripped up."

Senior negotiated any final tremors to card a four under 68 with just one bogey on his card. He complimented the grooming of the course, but lamented his inability to convert many chances except the par fives.

"It is like a shooting match, it is too easy and there will be low numbers again if the weather stays the way it was for the opening round."

Senior, one of the pioneers of the broomstick putter, said he putted poorly last week in Melbourne and yesterday was not much better.

"I'm just not holing anything decent. I'm making a few six-eight footers, but most of my birdies today came from 18 inches.

" "The course is in great condition, the guys are happy, the practice facilities are great so the guys can't whinge about anything," Senior added.

"The cut will be about five or six under, but everybody knew that before they started if there was no breeze. I have heard it might come up, but you never know."

Senior hoped he would be further favoured with a morning tee time today and a friendlier putter.