Fox in the hunt: Kiwi star keeps fatigue at bay
Ryan Fox’s body wants to shutdown into a deep, long sleep. But the 32-year-old won’t let it.
The jet-lagged Kiwi believes his New Zealand Open chances depend on it, after carding a three-under-par 68 at Arrowtown’s Millbrook yesterday.
Later in the day, New Zealander Harry Bateman eagled the par five 17th to join an Australian and a Japanese at the top of the leaderboard.
Bateman seemed headed for a bleak day when he went bogeybogey to start at the Hills. Five birdies in seven holes righted the ship, then he finished with four birdies and an eagle in six holes to complete an 8-under 64. With him at the top of the leaderboard are Zach Murray of Australia and Ryuko Tokimatsu of Japan.
On the comeback trail, veteran Michael Campbell was all square for the day (with two bogies offsetting a pair of birdies in a 72).
Fox retired to the massage table ahead of today’s second round at The Hills.
‘‘I’m pretty knackered now, to be honest. I just had a massage and I was about to fall asleep on the table. But I felt pretty good on the golf course, I woke up 10 minutes before my alarm this morning feeling pretty good,’’ Fox said.
Having only arrived in Arrowtown from Mexico on Wednesday morning after a 22-hour trip, the 32-year-old is determined to stay up until about 10pm, so his body doesn’t get out of whack.
‘‘I think if I go to sleep now, I will be in big trouble,’’ Fox said.
Ranked 68th in the world, Fox opened with a birdie in chilly conditions, before adding three more to his scorecard. His only bogey was on the par-three 18th, after his tee shot sprayed left and barely missed the drink.
‘‘I probably would have preferred it in the water. I would have had less for bogey from dropping it than I probably did being left of the water.
‘‘I’ve been fighting the lefts a little bit the last couple of weeks . . . happy to get away with only making bogey there,’’ Fox said.
‘‘I’m pretty knackered now, to be honest. I just had a massage and I was about to fall asleep on the table.’’
Ryan Fox
Fox was joined by fellow Kiwis Steven Alker and Daniel Pearce at three-under the card after their opening rounds. It was a good enough for a share of 12th when he spoke to media, but the leaderboard was likely to change by the time the late groups get in.
‘‘I let a few slip out there. But three-under is not bad looking overall at the leaderboard,’’ Fox said.
Murray looked anything but the rookie pro he is after his eight-under 63 opening round – his best since turning pro in November – at Millbrook.
Murray could yet be caught by the late groups, but in the meantime was two shots clear of countryman Ashley Hall.
The 21-year-old didn’t miss a green, and rolled in eight birdies with his putter to exceed his father’s 54th birthday wish.
‘‘He messaged me [on Wednesday] night and said, ‘65 would be nice, considering I was born in 1965,’. I added a couple of years onto him today with 63. I spoke to him before quickly and he said he doesn’t mind. Happy birthday to dad, I suppose,’’ Murray said.