Kiwi has excellent shot at Fiji title
IN NEW Zealand, Ben Campbell hunts for deer.
In Fiji, he has a trophy firmly in his crosshairs and further proof that 2018 is the breakout year for the rising Kiwi.
Campbell will take a fourshot lead into today’s third round of the Fiji International after stalking Natadola Bay with intent yesterday when he reeled off seven birdies.
The 26- year- old finished the second round at 11- under the card after collecting 14 birdies across the first two days.
The chasing pack is led by the Australian trio of Andrew Dodt ( seven- under), Jarryd Felton ( six- under) and Terry Pilkadaris ( six- under).
New Zealand’s Harry Bateman and Nick Voke, China’s Ashun Wu, 2014 Australian Masters winner Nick Cullen, 2014 Fiji International champion Steve Jeffress, India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar and Queensland’s Jake McLeod are a shot further back at fiveunder.
Campbell and the other contenders will be joined on the weekend by co- headliners Vijay Singh and Ernie Els who flirted with the cut line.
Singh missed a short putt on his last hole to finish at fourover to just squeeze into the weekend by one shot.
“I’m happy with the way I played, very disappointed with the little putt I missed on the last hole, but hopefully fourover is going to be good enough. If it’s not, then so be it,” Singh said after his morning round.
Meanwhile, Els blew out to three- over after nine holes but went birdie- eagle- birdie to start the back nine and finished at two- under at the halfway point.